UMG scientist receives highest European award for early career researchers

The European Research Council (ERC) is funding researcher Prof Dr Hauke Hillen with an ERC Starting Grant of 1.5 million euros for a period of five years.

Prof. Dr Hauke Hillen, head of the “Structure and Function of Molecular Machines” working group at the Institute of Cell Biochemistry at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), independent research group leader at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences and member of the Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), will use the funding to investigate how the powerhouses of cells – the mitochondria – produce proteins.

“An important step in protein production is the transcription of the genetic information of the mitochondrial DNA into RNA, which contains the blueprint for the proteins. This blueprint is then processed further before the proteins can be produced based on it. If errors occur during RNA processing, for example due to a genetic defect, this can lead to serious diseases. “We want to investigate the entire life cycle of mitochondrial RNA – from its creation to its degradation,” explains Hillen. “We are using cryo-electron microscopy in particular. This cutting-edge method allows us to visualise the ‘nanomachines’ responsible for RNA processing in the mitochondria with almost atomic resolution. To do this, thousands of snapshots of these molecules are taken from different angles and then combined to create an overall picture. Using this method, we can follow the processes in the mitochondria in great detail.” With their work, the researchers will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of energy production in human cells and thus create new therapeutic approaches for diseases that are based on a malfunction of these processes.

The biochemist’s work has been supported by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture since 2022 with the “Stay Inspired: European Excellence for Lower Saxony” funding programme from the “ZUKUNFT.NIEDERSACHSEN” programme. The aim of this start-up funding was to acquire an ERC Starting Grant. “I would like to congratulate Prof Dr Hauke Hillen and his team on the ERC Starting Grant. They have prevailed in a highly competitive competition of outstanding European researchers,” said Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture Falko Mohrs. “With the support of our ‘Stay Inspired’ programme, we as a state were able to make an important contribution to the successful development of this outstanding application. The recognition and funding from the European Research Council underlines the innovative strength of our research landscape in Lower Saxony.”

Dr. Hauke Hillen

Date:
2024

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