Ulrich Hagen
Encyclopedia
Ulrich Hagen a German
scientist
, is one of the German pioneers in the field of molecular radiation biology
.
Hagen developed analytical techniques that would allow an examination and analysis of various types of DNA damage. He was among the first German radiation biologists to become aware of the important role of DNA repair in endpoints such as mutagenesis
, aberration formation, cell death, and carcinogenesis
.
with doctoral degrees in Medicine
and Biology
. In 1953, he was given a fellowship position at Heiligenberg Institute (one of the leading German institutes for Radiation Biology after WWII), which was then under the directorship of Hanns Langendorff.
In the early days at Heiligenberg, Professor Hagen researched the radioprotective substances and cell death in lymphocyte
s and conducted research in Stockholm, in Professor Forssberg's laboratory. It was in Stockholm that Professor Hagen became acquainted with isolated DNA. There he realized the importance of the cellular effects of ionising radiation in relationship with DNA damage repair. Immediately following this, he began developing analytical techniques that would allow an examination and analysis of various types of DNA damage, which made Hagen an important pioneer in the field of Molecular Radiation Biology.
Ulrich Hagen continued his research work as 'Privatdozent' at the Radiological Institute of the University of Freiburg
, from 1961 to 1965. In 1965, he accepted an appointment at the Institute of Radiation Biology of the Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (under the leadership of Karl Günter Zimmer). He remained there for 12 years studying the structure of irradiated DNA. During those years, he recognized and documented the problem of RNA polymerase inhibition by damaged DNA templates and was among the first German radiation biologists to become aware of the important role of DNA repair, as relates to endpoints: mutagenesis, aberration formation, cell death, and carcinogenesis. Ulrich Hagen became the Director of the Institute of Radiation Biology of the GSF – Gesellschaft für Strahlenforschung in Neuherberg (which was later re-named GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health), in 1979. As the Director of Radiation Biology of the GSF, he was able to unify a number of heterogeneous radiological disciplines that had arisen at the GSF institute. In 1995, he was elected President of the 10th International Congress of Radiation Research in Würzburg
, Germany and was, for 16 years, the Managing Editor of Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, Springer-Verlag.
Springer Berlin / Heidelberg http://www.springerlink.com/content/p242600qng2431h6/
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...
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, is one of the German pioneers in the field of molecular radiation biology
Radiobiology
Radiobiology , as a field of clinical and basic medical sciences, originated from Leopold Freund's 1896 demonstration of the therapeutic treatment of a hairy mole using a new type of electromagnetic radiation called x-rays, which was discovered 1 year previously by the German physicist, Wilhelm...
.
Hagen developed analytical techniques that would allow an examination and analysis of various types of DNA damage. He was among the first German radiation biologists to become aware of the important role of DNA repair in endpoints such as mutagenesis
Mutagenesis
Mutagenesis is a process by which the genetic information of an organism is changed in a stable manner, resulting in a mutation. It may occur spontaneously in nature, or as a result of exposure to mutagens. It can also be achieved experimentally using laboratory procedures...
, aberration formation, cell death, and carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis or oncogenesis is literally the creation of cancer. It is a process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells...
.
Life
Hagen was born in Frankfurt am Main and raised in Augsburg, Germany where he attended the Anna Gymnasium. His father Wilhem Hagen was a pediatrician and later an important public health official in Germany. Ulrich Hagen graduated from the Ludwig Maximilians University of MunichLudwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
with doctoral degrees in Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. In 1953, he was given a fellowship position at Heiligenberg Institute (one of the leading German institutes for Radiation Biology after WWII), which was then under the directorship of Hanns Langendorff.
In the early days at Heiligenberg, Professor Hagen researched the radioprotective substances and cell death in lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.Under the microscope, lymphocytes can be divided into large lymphocytes and small lymphocytes. Large granular lymphocytes include natural killer cells...
s and conducted research in Stockholm, in Professor Forssberg's laboratory. It was in Stockholm that Professor Hagen became acquainted with isolated DNA. There he realized the importance of the cellular effects of ionising radiation in relationship with DNA damage repair. Immediately following this, he began developing analytical techniques that would allow an examination and analysis of various types of DNA damage, which made Hagen an important pioneer in the field of Molecular Radiation Biology.
Ulrich Hagen continued his research work as 'Privatdozent' at the Radiological Institute of the University of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, from 1961 to 1965. In 1965, he accepted an appointment at the Institute of Radiation Biology of the Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (under the leadership of Karl Günter Zimmer). He remained there for 12 years studying the structure of irradiated DNA. During those years, he recognized and documented the problem of RNA polymerase inhibition by damaged DNA templates and was among the first German radiation biologists to become aware of the important role of DNA repair, as relates to endpoints: mutagenesis, aberration formation, cell death, and carcinogenesis. Ulrich Hagen became the Director of the Institute of Radiation Biology of the GSF – Gesellschaft für Strahlenforschung in Neuherberg (which was later re-named GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health), in 1979. As the Director of Radiation Biology of the GSF, he was able to unify a number of heterogeneous radiological disciplines that had arisen at the GSF institute. In 1995, he was elected President of the 10th International Congress of Radiation Research in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, Germany and was, for 16 years, the Managing Editor of Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, Springer-Verlag.
Awards and honors
Hagen's scientific career is documented by numerous publications and by several eminent awards:- Röntgen Award, University of GiessenUniversity of GiessenThe University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
(1966) - Weiss Medal, British Association for Radiation Research (1976)
- Hanns-Lagendorff Medal (1997)
External links
GSF - Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit http://www.gsf.de/Springer Berlin / Heidelberg http://www.springerlink.com/content/p242600qng2431h6/