Next-Generation Biomedical Sciences – Fusion of Molecular Engineering, Imaging and Modeling

Project abstract: 

This working group aims to create a new research area in biomedical science tackling important issues in medicine by seamlessly connecting molecular engineering, advanced bioimaging, and mathematical modeling. We set a clear focus on tackling “clinically relevant problems in medicine”, although this is a highly interdisciplinary group of researchers holding track records in different fields.

The lead coordinator, M. Tanaka (Heidelberg and Kyoto), has been actively promoting collaboration with medical researchers in Heidelberg and Kyoto. He will take a lead to facilitate cross-institutional, interdisciplinary discussion with Hiroshi Seno (Kyoto), representing clinical medicine. Hiroshi Suito (deputy director of AIMR, Tohoku) also has long-lasting collaboration with researchers in clinical medicine, representing the modeling domain with K. Svadlenka (Kyoto) and other junior colleagues. Martin Bastmeyer (KIT) utilizes his experiences as spokesperson for Biomedical Photonics of the Karlsruhe School for Optics&Photonics (KSOP) and will represent the bio-imaging domain by the active involvement of the junior colleagues. From clinical medicine, we recuited Hiroshi Seno (Gastroenterology) and junior faculties from respiratory medicine and other fields. The molecular engineering aspect is strengthened by four members holding complementary expertise; Christof Wöll (KIT, engineering of surface/interface), Yoshinori Takashima (Osaka, engineering of polymer), Eva Blasco (Heidelberg, engineering of biofunctional molecules), and Fuyuhiko Tamanoi (Kyoto, nanomaterials).

Our strategy is to utilize the existing center projects (collaborative research center, priority program, excellence cluster, etc.) to promote new collaboration, such as bilateral projects, exchange of junior researchers and graduate students, international winter schools, etc. The coordinators and core members share common visions to develop our cooperation in a focused subject.  

Lead coordinator: 

Name: Motomu Tanaka
Position: Professor
Institution: Heidelberg University
Department, Faculty: Physical Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences

Other coordinators:

Name: Hiroshi Suito
Position: Professor
Institution: Tohoku University
Department, Faculty: Advanced Institute for Materials Research

Name: Martin Bastmeyer 
Position: Professor
Institution: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Department, Faculty: Zoological Institute, Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences