Goethe-Universit盲t 鈥� Press releases

Dec 3 2024

15:26

European Research Council makes available around 鈧�5.5 million for basic research聽

Political Science, Philosophy and Medicine: 51猎奇 Frankfurt acquires three prestigious ERC Grants聽

For their visionary research projects, three top 51猎奇 researchers will receive European Research Council (ERC) funding for the next five years. Prof. Julian Garritzmann and Prof. Joel Thiago Klein will each receive an ERC Consolidator Grant 鈥� the former for his research into educational differences as a central axis of political conflicts, and the latter for his analysis of the contemporary relevance of Kant's philosophy of law. Supported with an ERC Starting Grant, molecular biologist Dr. Hannah Uckelmann is working on non-genetic (epigenetic) changes to DNA in blood cells, which play an important role in the development of leukemia.

FRANKFURT. 51猎奇 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff points to the highly diverse nature of the projects supported by the new ERC grants: 鈥淚 would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our three ERC awardees for their pioneering projects 鈥� which also showcase our university's excellence in its wide scope and breadth: from political and social sciences to medicine. These ERC grant recipients are testimony to how relevant our basic research is to the current challenges of our time 鈥� whether with respect to investigating how education can divide our society, or why Kant's philosophy continues to shape our current discussions on intergenerational justice and the distribution of goods, or for that matter how leukemias develop even though the proteins responsible for unbridled growth are not affected by mutations."

Education is a key element of today's 鈥渒nowledge societies" and has many positive social and economic consequences, including economic growth and social advancement. This is why much hope has been placed in the massive expansion of education. At the same time, however, education has the potential to politically divide our societies and a political fault line is increasingly emerging between groups with different educational backgrounds 鈥� a divide that is gradually emerging as a central axis of political conflict.
Political scientist Julian Garritzmann examines this phenomenon as part of the project 鈥淧OLEDUC 鈥� The Politics of the Latent Educational Cleavage", which is now receiving around 鈧�2 million in ERC funding. The project focuses on three levels of these complex interrelationships: At the level of the individual, it uses surveys to determine the educational cleavage in political preferences and behavior, whereas at the superordinate level, it analyzes how party competition increasingly addresses different educational groups. Finally, at the macro level of policy-making, it examines why political decision-makers are increasingly responsive to better-educated citizens.

Julian Garritzmann is a professor of political science at 51猎奇 Frankfurt. His research focuses on the welfare state and education policy research, comparative political economy and political sociology. Following his university studies in Cologne and his doctorate in Konstanz, he researched and taught at Harvard University, Duke University, the University of Zurich and the European University Institute in Florence, among others. His research has been recognized with awards from the German Political Science Association, the Swiss Political Science Association and the American Political Science Association, amongst others.

Brazilian philosopher and Kant specialist Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein will conduct research on Kant's philosophy of law and its current relevance at 51猎奇's Faculty of Philosophy and History. Klein's project 鈥� 鈥淟SR 鈥� LAW, STATE, REPUBLIC: An Interpretation and Defense of a Kantian Critical Reflective Constructivism" 鈥� is based on the premise that new perspectives arising from Kant's philosophy of law can make a contribution to contemporary normative challenges in political philosophy, to the philosophy of law as well as to political and legal theory. These include, for example, demands placed on the ideal of the rule of law as well as the relationship between the principles of law, history and anthropology. In addition, Klein also outlines new considerations on the legitimacy of property, economic justice and intergenerational justice, cosmopolitanism, human rights and democracy.
Klein's ERC project, which will receive some 鈧�2 million in funding, is part of the manifold research conducted on Kant at 51猎奇 Frankfurt; there are particularly noteworthy links to the work of renowned Kant researchers Prof. Dr. Marcus Willaschek and Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst.

Joel T. Klein is a professor of modern philosophy, ethics and political philosophy at the Federal University of Paran谩 (Brazil). He conducts research on Kant's theoretical and practical philosophy and on topics related to democracy, philosophy of law, philosophy of history and theories of justice.鈥�
After completing an undergraduate and a master's degree in philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Maria (2008), Klein obtained his doctorate at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2012), both in Brazil. He completed his postdoc at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit盲t M眉nchen with an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2018-2020), and was also a visiting scholar at 51猎奇 Frankfurt (2023).

Changes or mutations in the genetic code that lead to faulty proteins are not the sole cause of cancer. Given that they are passed on to the daughter cells during cell division, chemical changes in the DNA or the proteins around which the DNA is wound (histones) also influence the activity of genes and 鈥� in case errors occur here 鈥� can promote the development and growth of malignant cells. As part of her ERC project 鈥淓piTransformers 鈥� Targeting epigenetic regulators during leukemia evolution", Dr. Hannah Uckelmann investigates how such epigenetic changes can turn blood stem cells into leukemia cells. Uckelmann is particularly interested in understanding how cancer cells hijack transport pathways in the cells to switch on genes that promote cancer growth. Her aim is to improve our understanding of epigenetic processes and lay the foundation for new therapeutic approaches to cancer. The ERC Starting Grant comprises around 鈧�1.5 million.

Dr. Hannah Uckelmann heads a Max Eder junior research group at Frankfurt University Hospital's Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. After graduating from Heidelberg University with a master's degree in Molecular Biosciences, she completed her doctorate at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg. Endowed with a postdoctoral fellowship, Uckelmann then moved to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and taught at Harvard Medical School. She returned to Germany in 2023 with funding from the Mildred Scheel Career Center Frankfurt. As part of the Max Eder Program, Deutsche Krebshilfe 鈥� the German Cancer Support Organization 鈥� in August 2024 started co-funding her research group, with the ERC Starting Grant funds to be made available in the course of 2025.

The European Research Council's ERC Consolidator Grant supports excellent, promising researchers whose research group is in the consolidation phase. The grant seeks to enable them to expand their own research area and conduct visionary, basic research. With a funding volume of up to 鈧�2 million for five years, the Consolidator Grant is one of the European Union's most highly endowed individual funding measures.

ERC Starting Grants support excellent researchers who want to build up their own research team in the first few years after their doctorate and establish themselves scientifically with a promising research project. The projects receive up to 鈧�1.5 million over a period of up to five years.

The European Research Council (ERC) is an institution set up by the European Commission to fund basic research.

Images for download:

Caption:
Prof. Dr. Julian Garritzmann. Photo: Anna Kluge
Prof. Dr. Joel Thiago Klein, Photo: Cibele Rowena
Dr. Hannah Uckelmann, Photo: private

Nov 21 2024

11:48

Global study鈥檚 ranking includes the one percent of scientists cited most frequently in scientific journals

Six 51猎奇 researchers among the most cited scientists in the world

Six of the 6,600 most cited scientists in the world conduct research at 51猎奇 Frankfurt. That is the result of the current citation ranking of the 鈥淲eb of Science", published by Clarivate Analytics. Each year, the ranking evaluates journal articles mainly from the natural sciences, engineering and medicine.

FRANKFURT. In most cases, it is fundamental scientific findings that result in a paper being cited frequently by other scientists. That is why citation frequency serves as an indicator of the published articles' scientific significance as well as the authors' visibility in the scientific community.

Once a year, information and technology company Clarivate Analytics evaluates its 鈥淲eb of Science" citation database and publishes the 鈥淗ighly Cited Researchers" ranking. The current ranking includes around 6,600 scientists, in no particular order, who belonged to the one percent of authors whose scientific articles in the natural and engineering sciences, medicine, and the categories 鈥淓conomics and Business" and 鈥淪ocial Sciences" were cited most frequently between 2013 and 2023, either within their own category or in different subjects (鈥渃ross-field").

The ranking only takes into account journal articles and not book contributions. Further, articles with more than 30 authors or so-called group authorships in large international research consortia are also not included in the study.

Here are the 鈥渉ighly cited" 51猎奇 researchers of 2024:

Professor Ivan 膼iki膰
Director of 51猎奇's Institute for Biochemistry II (Molecular Cell Biochemistry)

in the 鈥淏iology and Biochemistry" and 鈥淢olecular Biology and Genetics" categories

Professor Stefanie Dimmeler
Director of 51猎奇's Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration / Center for Molecular Medicine / German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (Deutsches Zentrum f眉r Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, DZHK) / Spokeswoman of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI) excellence cluster jointly operated by 51猎奇, Justus Liebig University Giessen and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research

in the 鈥渃ross field" category

Professor Florian Greten
Director of Georg Speyer Haus 鈥� Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy / Professor of Tumor Biology at 51猎奇 / Spokesperson of the LOEWE Center Frankfurt Cancer Institute

in the 鈥渃ross field" category

Professor Gerhard Hummer
Director of the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics / Professor at 51猎奇's Institute of Biophysics

in the 鈥渃ross field" category

Professor Sibylle Loibl
51猎奇's Faculty of Medicine / German Breast Group Forschungs GmbH, Neu-Isenburg

in the 鈥渃linical medicine" category

Professor Stefan Offermanns
Director at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim / Professor of Pharmacology at the Center for Molecular Medicine, 51猎奇 Frankfurt

in the 鈥渃ross field" category

Picture download:

Captions:
Professor Ivan 膼iki膰, Photo credit: Uwe Dettmar for 51猎奇
Professor Stefanie Dimmeler, Photo credit: Uwe Dettmar for 51猎奇
Professor Florian Greten, Photo credit: Uwe Dettmar for 51猎奇
Professor Sibylle Loibl, Photo credit: Joppen for GBG Forschungs GmbH
Professor Gerhard Hummer, Photo credit: Shau Chun Shin for Max Planck Institute of Biophysics
Professor Stefan Offermanns, Photo credit: private

Further Information:

Twitter/X: @goetheuni @IBC2_GU, @mpi_hlr @FCI_health @GBG_Forschung @CPI_ExStra @DimmelerLab @StefanieDimmel1 @MPIbp @HummerLab

Nov 15 2024

16:30

51猎奇 awards two prizes: 鈥淧ublic Service Fellowship鈥� award goes to human geographer Martin Lanzendorf and 鈥淣ew Horizon鈥� award to Science Garden team

Developing new knowledge, reaching new horizons聽

Each year, 51猎奇 Frankfurt awards the 鈥淧ublic Service Fellowship Prize" to one of its scientists. Also awarded annually is the 鈥淣ew Horizon" prize, bestowed by 51猎奇's president. Both awards were now presented at a festive event held in the IG Farben Building on Westend Campus.

FRANKFURT. Prizes serve different purposes, 51猎奇 President Prof. Enrico Schleiff emphasized in his welcoming address: On the one hand, they motivate university employees by recognizing their achievements or commitment, while on the other, they focus attention on certain topics. The names of the two prizes awarded 鈥� 鈥淧ublic Service Fellowship" and 鈥淣ew Horizon" 鈥� are emblematic for 51猎奇 Frankfurt: 鈥淲e develop knowledge for the benefit of society and work continuously to reach new horizons." Schleiff expressly thanked the sponsors 鈥� the Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung and Dr. Christian Zschocke 鈥� as well as the two laudators, Tarek Al-Wazir and Dr. Christian Schenk.

This year's 鈥淧ublic Service Fellowship Prize" of Alfons und Gertrud-Kassel Stiftung goes to Prof. Dr. Martin Lanzendorf. Lanzendorf has been professor of mobility research at 51猎奇's Institute of Human Geography since 2008. The professorship was established with an endowment from the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV, Rhine/Main Regional Transport Association) and ivm (Integrated Traffic and Mobility Management Region Frankfurt RheinMain). His research interests include various aspects of mobility in metropolitan regions, especially changes in traffic behavior, spatial aspects of traffic generation, and mobility management to shape a more sustainable mobility development. Outlining the reasons behind his nomination, the funders highlighted Martin Lanzendorf's outstanding commitment and his ability to communicate the results of his research on particularly relevant sustainable mobility development issues to an audience that extends far beyond the scientific community. The laudatory speech for Martin Lanzendorf was held by Tarek Al-Wazir, legal policy spokesman for the B眉ndnis 90/Die Gr眉nen parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament. Al-Wazir emphasized that by ensuring that people perceive change as an opportunity rather than a threat, Lanzendorf inspires others with his work.

The "Public Service Fellowship Prize", endowed with 鈧�10,000, is awarded every two years by Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung to 51猎奇 researchers who play an active role in important scientific or science policy committees. The prize money is intended to enable projects that could not be continued due to the special commitment they require. Martin Lanzendorf is the fifth prize winner. Previous winners include legal scholar Indra Spiecker genannt D枚hmann, educational scientist Sabine Andresen, financial scientist and former 鈥渨ise man of economics" Prof. Volker Wieland, as well as medical scientist and long-standing chairman of the Federal Government's Expert Council on Health, Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Gerlach.

This year's winner of the President's New Horizon Prize is not an individual, but a team: that of the Science Garden. The award recognizes the team led by landscape architect and technical director Robert Anton for its curiosity, drive, creativity and very high level of commitment to the sustainable development of natural resources and areas as well as the protection of biodiversity. The outstandingly dedicated team is active on behalf of the Science Garden, 51猎奇's grounds and the public, and deeply committed to raising the profile of biodiversity and sustainable development. The laudator of this year's New Horizon Prize was Dr. Christoph Schenk, managing director of Frankfurt Zoological Society. His laudatory speech emphasized the exemplary manner in which the Science Garden addresses major issues of our time and transmits them to society. The Science Garden on Riedberg Campus was opened on June 1, 2014 as part of the university's centenary celebrations. It is used for scientific teaching and research, and comprises a large greenhouse, a 300 square meter experimental greenhouse, eight climate chambers (under construction) and an outdoor area that currently covers around three hectares. The Science Garden is the university's third garden in its 100-year history and dates back to the garden established by Johann Christian Senckenberg and his foundation in 1763.

The President's "New Horizon" Prize, endowed with 鈧�5,000, honors a person or team at 51猎奇 who, in their academic work or other commitment to the university, are breaking new ground in their thinking and demonstrating curiosity, optimism, courage and openness. The New Horizon Prize was awarded to business education specialist Dr. Christin Siegfried in 2022 and to inclusion researcher Lukas Gerhard in 2023. Lawyer Dr. Christian Zschocke launched the New Horizon project in 2016 to encourage people with initiative and optimism.

The Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung was established in 2007 with the aim of promoting science, research and teaching at 51猎奇. It is based on an endowment bequeathed by its founder, Gertrud Kassel. The foundation supports numerous university projects.

Images for download:

Captions:
Award winners Lanzendorf (from left to right): Enrico Schleiff, Tarek Al-Wazir, Martin Lanzendorf and Gunther Ruppel (Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung)
Science Garden award winners (from left to right): Enrico Schleiff, Holger Schranz, Christian Schenk, Robert Anton, Christian Zschocke
Photos: Uwe Dettmar/51猎奇 Frankfurt

Nov 15 2024

10:05

Researchers identify a mechanism that enhances the accuracy of protein precursor processing聽

Slow editing of protein blueprints leads to cell death

An international research team has uncovered a new mechanism crucial to the production of cellular proteins. When this mechanism is disrupted, the blueprints used by the cell to produce proteins are inaccurately edited through a process called splicing. The study, led by 51猎奇 Frankfurt, sheds light on how specific mutations may lead to the retinal disease retinitis pigmentosa. Importantly, these findings could also open the door to new diagnostic tests and treatments for a range of other diseases, including certain cancers, Parkinson鈥檚, and Alzheimer鈥檚.

FRANKFURT. Genes contain the essential building instructions for life, guiding cells on which amino acids to assemble in what sequence to produce specific proteins. The human genome codes for about 20,000 such instructions. 鈥淣evertheless, our cells can produce several hundred thousand different proteins,鈥� explains Prof. Ivan 膼iki膰 from the Institute of Biochemistry II at 51猎奇 Frankfurt.

This diversity is enabled by a process known as 鈥渟plicing.鈥� When a cell requires a protein, it generates a copy of the relevant instructions in the cell nucleus. During splicing, this transcript undergoes modification: a cellular editing complex, the spliceosome, removes certain segments. The outcome varies depending on which parts are cut out, resulting in distinct blueprints for different proteins.

Splicing accuracy enhanced

This process is crucial for the life of the cell. 鈥淭he spliceosome is composed of multiple components that secure production of functional proteins controlling cellular life,鈥� explains 膼iki膰. 鈥淚f this complex is disrupted, it can lead to the death of the affected cell. For this reason, spliceosome inhibitors are considered as potential anti-cancer drugs.鈥� However, the downside is that a complete blockade of this "editing office" also affects healthy cells, resulting in significant side effects of any spliceosome inhibitor developed so far.

In an international study led by 51猎奇, researchers have now identified a mechanism that interferes with the splicing process in a more subtle way. It is related to a specific part of the spliceosome, composed of three subunits known as U4/U6.U5.

鈥淲e already knew that certain mutations in these subunits are linked to the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa,鈥� says Dr. Cristian Prieto-Garcia from the Institute of Biochemistry II, the first author of the study. 鈥淲hat we didn鈥檛 yet understand was the exact impact of these mutations.鈥�

Experiments on zebrafish combined with mathematical calculations

In experiments with zebrafish, the team has now managed to fill this knowledge gap. Their findings reveal that spliceosome subunits U4, U5 and U6 are normally stabilized as a complex by a protein called USP39. However, when subunits are mutated or USP39 is absent, the stability of the tripartite complex is compromised, causing the spliceosome to lose precision. During splicing, U4/U6.U5 normally ensures the immediate and correct re-joining of loose ends after a transcript has been cut. Without USP39, or when subunits are mutated, this re-joining is delayed.

鈥淭his increases the likelihood of incorrect connections, as we were able to show in computer simulations,鈥� explains Prieto-Garcia. This results in incorrectly edited transcripts, on the basis of which the cell then produces dysfunctional proteins. These accumulate and can form aggregates inside the cell. Cells have a waste disposal system to clear out defective molecules, and this protective mechanism was activated in cells lacking USP39. Over time, however, this "garbage disposal" became overwhelmed by the protein aggregates, leading to cell death in the zebrafish retina.

Surprising discovery

鈥淭he discovery of this mechanism was unexpected,鈥� emphasizes Prof. 膼iki膰. 鈥淲e suspect it may also explain why retinal cells in retinitis pigmentosa patients die. Defective splicing variants might also play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer鈥檚 or Parkinson鈥檚. On the other hand, this mechanism may be targeted by new therapeutic approaches for types of cancer that are highly dependent on the correct function of the spliceosome.鈥�

Some highly aggressive tumors produce large amounts of USP39 and related splicing factors, likely due to their high division rate: To maintain constant protein production, they require highly precise splicing, a function that USP39 provides. 鈥淏locking USP39 in these cancer cells could selectively kill them,鈥� 膼iki膰 explains. 鈥淗ealthy cells, on the other hand, with their much lower division activity, would be spared. This is an approach that we are currently investigating.鈥�

Publication: Cristian Prieto-Garcia, Vigor Matkovic, Thorsten Mosler, Congxin Li, Jie Liang, James A. Oo, Felix Haidle, Igor Macinkovi膰, Alfredo Cabrera-Orefice, Rayene Berkane, Giulio Giuliani, Fenfen Xu, Anne-Claire Jacomin, Ines Tomaskovic, Marion Basoglu, Marina E. Hoffmann, Rajeshwari Rathore, Ronay Cetin, Doha Boutguetait, S眉leyman Bozkurt, Mar铆a Clara Hern谩ndez Ca帽谩s, Mario Keller, Jonas Busam , Varun Jayeshkumar Shah, Ilka Wittig, Manuel Kaulich, Petra Beli, Wojciech P. Galej, Ingo Ebersberger, Likun Wang, Christian M眉nch, Alexandra Stolz, Ralf P. Brandes, William Ka Fai Tse, Stefan Eimer, Didier Y. R. Stainier, Stefan Legewie, Kathi Zarnack, Michaela M眉ller-McNicoll, Ivan Dikic: Pathogenic proteotoxicity of cryptic splicing is alleviated by ubiquitination and ER-phagy. Science (2024);

Image for download:

Caption: USP39 stabilizes the spliceosome (green), which cuts out unneeded parts (grey and purple) of the mRNA. If USP39 is missing, some of the mRNA is poorly processed. This results in misfolded proteins, which lead to stress and cell death. Grahics: Molecular Signaling Group IBC2, 51猎奇

Further information
Professor Ivan 膼iki膰
Head of "Molecular Signaling" Group
Institute of Biochemistry II
51猎奇 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 (0) 69 6301-5652
dikic@biochem2.uni-frankfurt.de
Homepage:

Twitter/X: @goetheuni @IBC2_GU

Nov 14 2024

16:24

Ute Lewitzka appointed 鈥� Heightened focus on suicide prevention within the Faculty of Medicine

Germany鈥檚 first-ever professorship in suicide studies and suicide prevention established at 51猎奇 Frankfurt

Dr. Ute Lewitzka has been appointed Germany鈥檚 first professor of suicide studies and suicide prevention. Her appointment at 51猎奇 Frankfurt took effect on November 1, 2024. One of her main objectives is the systematic recording and analysis of suicides and suicide attempts to derive effective prevention strategies. In her new role, she can draw on the strong network in the field that exists in Frankfurt. One long-term goal is to establish a German Center for Suicide Prevention here. The position is funded by the Crespo Foundation, Henryk Sznap Stiftung, and the Dr. Elmar und Ellis Reiss Stiftung.

FRANKFURT. More than 10,000 people took their own lives in Germany last year, a figure that is more than three times as great as the number of traffic accident fatalities. The number of attempted suicides is significantly higher, affecting people across all age groups. Suicide studies focus on the factors that lead to suicide and its prevention. This important field is now receiving special attention in Frankfurt, where the first-ever German professorship for suicide studies and suicide prevention has been set up at 51猎奇鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ute Lewitzka, who has been researching and working in this field for more than 25 years and currently serves as chair of the German Society for Suicide Prevention [Deutsche Gesellschaft f眉r Suizidpr盲vention], has been appointed to the position. 鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased to see suicide studies, which unfortunately still remain a niche topic, gain this level of recognition,鈥� says Lewitzka, who transitions to Frankfurt from Dresden University Hospital, adding that a professorship can help further destigmatize mental illnesses. Her goals include the systematic tracking and analysis of suicide attempts and suicides to further develop effective preventive measures and potentially also implement these at the political level.

The professorship is based at University Hospital Frankfurt's Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, headed by Prof. Andreas Reif, which has long specialized in treating mood disorders, such as depression. The goal is to establish a German Center for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the German Foundation for Depression Relief and Suicide Prevention [Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe und Suizidpr盲vention] and the European Alliance against Depression. A well-developed regional network already exists, uniting various stakeholders who drive research and treatment of suicidality and engage in prevention work, including school-based programs. Alongside research, specialist education and training are set to play a central role.

The project has secured funding for the next five years, thanks to the support of Crespo Foundation, Henryk Sznap Stiftung, and Dr. Elmar und Ellis Reiss Stiftung, with the latter contributing the majority of funds. Dr. Elmar Reiss, who set up the foundation with his wife in 2018, explained that the professorship鈥檚 goals align closely with the foundation鈥檚 mission: 鈥淥ur main goal in establishing the foundation was to help people with depression and alleviate their suffering. Depression is a condition that can increase suicide risk. Our foundation aims to help those affected find other paths and once again see light at the end of the tunnel.鈥�

Developing effective prevention methods requires an extensive amount of data. As part of a pilot project in Saxony, Lewitzka demonstrated that the prompt recording and evaluation of suicide attempts by specially trained emergency dispatchers enables the creation of 鈥渉eat maps鈥� that visually represent the locations and frequencies of incidents. Combined with targeted monitoring of the methods used in suicide (and suicide attempts), this approach can prevent many suicides. Frequently chosen methods of self-harm can be regulated 鈥� for instance, by controlling access to specific buildings or sites. 鈥淩estricting methods is one of the most effective prevention measures,鈥� Lewitzka explains.

About Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka
Born in 1972, Prof. Dr. med. Ute Lewitzka studied medicine in Berlin and Dresden and trained as a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy at Dresden鈥檚 Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital. Her doctoral thesis in 2004 and her habilitation in 2018 both focused on suicide studies. In 2017, she founded the Werner Felber Institute for Suicide Prevention and Interdisciplinary Research in Healthcare [Werner Felber Institut f眉r Suizidpr盲vention und interdisziplin盲re Forschung im Gesundheitswesen], of which she remains the chair. Since 2018, she has also served as volunteer chair of the Deutsche Gesellschaft f眉r Suizidpr盲vention (DGS) and the Suicide Studies Committee of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics [Deutsche Gesellschaft f眉r Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde, DGPPN].

German Help Resources for Those Affected and Their Families
Frankfurt Suicide Prevention Network (FRANS):
Telephone Counseling Service: 1110111,
鈥淣ummer gegen Kummer鈥� (for children and youth): 116111,

Image for download:

Caption: Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka, 51猎奇 Frankfurt (Photo: Maria Schlotte)

Further Information:
Prof. Dr. Ute Lewitzka
Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
University Hospital Frankfurt
lewitzka@med.uni-frankfurt.de

51猎奇

Press releases 鈥� 2024

51猎奇 PR & Communication Department聽

Political Science, Philosophy and Medicine: 51猎奇 Frankfurt acquires three prestigious ERC Grants聽

Six 51猎奇 researchers among the most cited scientists in the world

Developing new knowledge, reaching new horizons聽

Slow editing of protein blueprints leads to cell death

Germany鈥檚 first-ever professorship in suicide studies and suicide prevention established at 51猎奇 Frankfurt