GRK 455: Molecular Veterinary Medicine

Molecular cell structures determine complex diseases. It is also becoming more successful in veterinary medicine to recognise and treat causes and consequences of diseases, genetic defects and incompatibilities on the molecular level of cell structures. The graduate students are advised to learn appropriate methods in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and pathology aiming to analyse pathophysiological processes and to understand their molecular and cellular basis. Research programmes allow studies about 1) mechanisms of cell-microbial- and cell-cell-interactions, 2) principles of the development of cytopathogenic viruses, 3) structure, function, and regulation of membrane channels and their importance for pathological conditions, 4) molecular diagnosis of genetically caused organ diseases, as well as 5) the importance of para- and endocrine compounds for pathophysiologoical processes. Besides the methodological part of the postgraduate programme the students have to prepare for the public a scientific review of pressing importance about a relevant veterinary topic. They should further organize a scientific meeting. The aspiring doctorands are allowed to use their thesis together with the certificates of the research training group to apply for a Ph.D. diploma.