Life Sciences Bridge Award for Lucas Jae
The award, presented by the Aventis Foundation, is endowed with €100,000.
01.10.2021
Lucas Jae's research group at the LMU Gene Center uses a combination of ultra-deep genome mutagenesis and CRISPR/Cas genome editing to study the genetic basis of cellular processes important for human disease. The unbiased nature of this approach leads to stimulating encounters with very different aspects of cellular biology. A central topic of their research are the mechanisms that counteract or exacerbate perturbations in cellular protein compartments, particularly those connected to mitochondria. Defects in these organelles are strongly linked to the aging process and age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular defects. While important insights about mitochondrial dysfunction have been gained in model organisms such as fungi and worms, how mitochondrial fidelity is maintained in the human system is mostly an area of ‘biological dark matter’. "I am very grateful that the hard work and scientific discoveries of my team receive recognition through this prestigious award. The welcome support will allow us to conduct genome-wide expeditions in the human system that are not always readily compatible with traditional funding schemes due to their ‘adventurous’ nature." says Jae.
The Aventis Foundation has established a research award for postdoctoral researchers in the field of life sciences, to help them successfully set up themselves in their academic field, pursue innovative approaches and boost their chances of gaining full professorship. The awards will be given to young academics with a doctorate or habilitation, junior professors and tenure- track-professors or research group leaders who aim for an academic career but do not yet hold full and permanent professorship. The award specifically promotes innovative approaches in life sciences: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, medicine, pharmaceutical studies – each of which may be combined with mathematics and IT. Each year’s awards will be granted in cooperation with scientific institutions. For 2021, the Foundation have partnered with research-intensive German universities.
The Aventis Foundation is an independent non-profit foundation headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Its purpose is to promote arts and culture, as well as science, research and teaching. It has a foundation capital of 53 million Euros. For more information, please visit their website at https://bridge.aventis-foundation.org/
Aventis Foundation press release
Further details on research projects and job opportunities at the Jae lab can be found on their website.