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Disease-causing proteins can be removed from the cell through targeted protein degradation. For this, the protein must be connected to one of the approximately 600 endogenous so-called ubiquitin ligases. So far, clinical success has only been achieved with two of these ligases. A team of researchers at CeMM, led by Georg Winter, has now discovered an adapter for a new ligase, potentially significantly expanding the range of medical applications. Furthermore, the team managed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of this adapter, which could lead to a new general strategy for targeted protein degradation. The study was published in Nature…

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The authors of the study Marko Cigler (l) and Georg Winter (r)

Nightshade plants produce a diverse array of compounds with therapeutic potential. Researchers at CeMM have now identified an artificial variant inspired by the Withanolides group that acts highly specifically against leukemia cells. Using state-of-the-art chemical and genetic high-throughput analyses, the team led by Georg Winter not only confirmed its effectiveness but also elucidated its mechanism of action: the molecule disrupts the cholesterol metabolism of tumor cells. The study's findings were published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology (DOI 10.1038/s41589-024-01614-4).

While some nightshade plants, such as potatoes, tomatoes, or…

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first row: Janet Kelso, Carl-Henrik Heldin, Emmanuelle Charpentier; second row: Hidde Ploegh, Aaron Ciechanover, Derek Tan

We thank our Scientific Advisory Board members Carl-Henrik Heldin (SAB Chair), Emmanuelle Charpentier, Aaron Ciechanover, Janet Kelso, Hidde Ploegh and Derek Tan for their precious time, fruitful discussions and valuable feedback. Academy President Heinz Faßmann met the SAB to receive feedback and recommendations and we appreciate that he expressed encouraging words to CeMM Faculty.

CeMM’s international Scientific Advisory Board members visit the institute every 18 months, to provide feedback on ongoing projects to discuss future research plans with CeMM Faculty, PostDocs and PhD students and to provide CeMM Management with recommendations…

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Rainbow Alliance Members at Vienna Pride Parade 2024 (c) Franzi Kreis

The Rainbow Alliance for Life Sciences and Medicine is an independent initiative of students, doctors, employees, and scientists at CeMM, the Medical University and AKH Vienna, as well as the research institutes at the Vienna Biocenter. Under the motto "Diversity is in our DNA" the alliance aims to show that while our genome is composed of just four letters — A, T, G, and C — their combinations create an immense complexity and, thus, the wonderful diversity among humans.

The mission of the LSM alliance has two main objectives:

  • To highlight the rich diversity of individuals working in science and medicine and to promote equality,…
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Thank you to the CeMM Postdoc representatives who organized this year’s Long Night of Research #LNF24 activities at CeMM, and all volunteers who supported this event. It was a pleasure to welcome our visitors and to see their interest in research and medicine.

At various activity stations for children and adults, CeMM members tried to give a glimpse into wet lab methods and introduced Virtual Reality technology for exploring biological data, and to learn more about network science. We also provided general information about CeMM and the EU-LIFE alliance to our guests.

Recent advances in high-throughput technologies have created exciting…

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Congratulations to CeMM Director Giulio Superti-Furga, and MPI Director Ferdi Schüth, for receiving the Wilhelm Exner Medal this year.

Wilhelm Exner (1840-1931) was president of the Austrian Business Association. Exner established the modern type of vocational schools in Austria, was one of the creators of the Chamber of Labor and was co-founder of the Vienna Technical Museum. The law for examination and material testing goes also back to him. With the medal bearing his name, the Wilhelm Exner Medal Foundation has since honored eminent scientists whose theories, findings and results have initiated important trade-industrial applications.…

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On May 13, 2024, the 17th CeMM Karl Landsteiner Lecture featured Dame Molly Stevens, John Black Professor of Bionanoscience at the University of Oxford and also Professor at Imperial College London and the Karolinska Institute. Her captivating lecture offered attendees, numbering around 350, profound insights into her groundbreaking research on designer biomaterials for applications in disease diagnostics and regenerative medicine.

The event commenced with a stirring performance by the Vienna-based Radio String Quartet, who delivered a captivating contemporary rendition of J.S. Bach's Presto from the G minor violin sonata, infusing it with…

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Prof. Dr. Hans Tuppy © Michael Sazel, CeMM (2009)

We received the sad news that one of the most influential and highly respected scientists, science policymaker and politician of the 2nd Republic of Austria, Hans Tuppy, passed away in his 100th year of life. In his long, and active lifespan his footprint, dedication, and impact as a pioneering researcher in the field of biochemistry, as an academic teacher, and as a leading figure in the research/science policy arena – never denying his attitude as a scientist – cannot be overrated.

Hans Tuppy served this country and the scientific community of Austria as President of the Austrian Science Fund (1974–1982), as Rector of the University of…

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It was a pleasure to be the host of the 11th EU-LIFE Community Meeting at CeMM in Vienna. Giulio Superti-Furga, Anita Ender and several CeMM representatives welcomed Marta Agostinho and the EU-LIFE office team, and the Board of Directors and Working Group members of the 15 EU-LIFE partner institutes.

The official EU-LIFE Community Meeting took place on Thursday, 25.4.2024, with more than 100 participants, contributing to 9 different Working Groups (Strategy, Core Facilities, Gender Equality and Diversity, Grants and Funding, IT, Human Resources, Training and Recruitment, Science Communications, and Tech Transfer). 7 out of 9 WG have already…

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Congratulations to Giulio Superti-Furga and his team for having been awarded the 2. Houska Prize 2024 of the B&C Private Foundation in the highly competitive category ‘University Research’.

The Houska Prize Jury recognized the accomplishment of having identified Feeblin as a new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases and for the effort to translate this finding by developing a new drug in cooperation with the domestic business partner and CeMM spin-off company Solgate GmbH that was founded in 2020.

Giulio Superti-Furga and his team at CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have created a…

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