Hartmut Wekerle
Encyclopedia
Hartmut Wekerle is a German
medical scientist and neurobiologist. He is director at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
and head of the department Neuroimmunology.
Hartmut Wekerle studied medicine at the University of Freiburg
where he also gained his PhD. As a post-doctoral researcher, he worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science
(Israel) and the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology
in Freiburg. Afterwards, he led the Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis at the Institute of Clinical Neurobiology at the University Hospital of the University of Würzburg
. In 1988, he was appointed director at the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology.
and the nervous system
, his main focus being on multiple sclerosis
.
Hartmut Wekerle’s work led to a number of scientific findings. Among these were the discoveries of
Since 1995 Wekerle is a leading member of the German Cancer Aid
and its "Dr. Mildred Scheel
Foundation for Cancer Research". The foundation supports numerous innovative research projects in order to develop new methods of therapy and diagnosis against cancer. The German Cancer Aid not only informs about the various types of cancer but also about the possibilities of cancer prevention and motivates the population to visit medical check-ups.
The Max Planck Institute further is listing following prizes, honors and memberships amongst others: Charcot Award (International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, 2001). Louis D Award (Grand Prix des Academies des Sciences, Paris, 2002). Honorary Professor, University of Munich (1993). Member of LEOPOLDINA (German Academy of Natural Scientists, 2002).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
medical scientist and neurobiologist. He is director at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
The Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology is a research institute of the Max Planck Society located in Martinsried, a suburb of Munich in Germany. Research centers on the basic mechanisms and functions of the developing and adult nervous system. Main focus areas include the mechanisms of...
and head of the department Neuroimmunology.
Hartmut Wekerle studied medicine at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
where he also gained his PhD. As a post-doctoral researcher, he worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science
Weizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science , known as Machon Weizmann, is a university and research institute in Rehovot, Israel. It differs from other Israeli universities in that it offers only graduate and post-graduate studies in the sciences....
(Israel) and the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology
Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology
The Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, Germany, is an interdisciplinary research institute that conducts basic research in modern immunobiology and developmental biology....
in Freiburg. Afterwards, he led the Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis at the Institute of Clinical Neurobiology at the University Hospital of the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. In 1988, he was appointed director at the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology.
Scientific focus
Hartmut Wekerle’s scientific research is focused on the underlying reasons and mechanisms of diseases which arise due to a coflict between the immune systemImmune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
and the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
, his main focus being on multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
Hartmut Wekerle’s work led to a number of scientific findings. Among these were the discoveries of
- potentially autoaggressive antibodies in a healthy immune system. (Schlüsener & Wekerle, J. Immunol. 1985)
- the specialized organization of the immune response in the nervous system. (Fontana et al., Nature 1984)
- the role of B cellB cellB cells are lymphocytes that play a large role in the humoral immune response . The principal functions of B cells are to make antibodies against antigens, perform the role of antigen-presenting cells and eventually develop into memory B cells after activation by antigen interaction...
s in autoimmune reactionsAutoimmunityAutoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease...
of the nervous system. (Krishnamoorthy et al., J. Clin. Invest. 2006)
Awards and Prizes
Since 1982 Wekerle was awarded with many prizes for his international success as a scientist. To the first Scientific prizes belong: Jung Prize for Science and Research (1982), Duchenne Prize (1984), Zülch-Prize (1999).Since 1995 Wekerle is a leading member of the German Cancer Aid
German Cancer Aid
The German Cancer Aid is a not-for-profit organization to fight cancer in all its forms. The institution was founded on September 25, 1974 by Dr. Mildred Scheel . She was the wife of Walter Scheel, the Federal President of Germany from 1974 to 1979....
and its "Dr. Mildred Scheel
Mildred Scheel
Mildred Scheel was a German physician, the second wife of the German President of the Federal Republic Walter Scheel and the founder of the German Cancer Aid. As the First Lady , she immediately established this Non-profit organization to fight all kinds of cancer...
Foundation for Cancer Research". The foundation supports numerous innovative research projects in order to develop new methods of therapy and diagnosis against cancer. The German Cancer Aid not only informs about the various types of cancer but also about the possibilities of cancer prevention and motivates the population to visit medical check-ups.
The Max Planck Institute further is listing following prizes, honors and memberships amongst others: Charcot Award (International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies, 2001). Louis D Award (Grand Prix des Academies des Sciences, Paris, 2002). Honorary Professor, University of Munich (1993). Member of LEOPOLDINA (German Academy of Natural Scientists, 2002).