Junior Projects 2025 – new grants

On 8 May 2025, 14 young scientists presented their research projects at the application colloquium for the first-time applicant programme. The individual applications were assessed in a one-stage process by the IZKF Management Board with the involvement of the ELAN Committee and the Junior Scientist Committee.

The panel of experts made eight funding recommendations:

• Dr. rer. nat. Lena Erkert (Department of Medicine 1): The role of TIFA in B lymphocytes

• Dr. rer. nat. Inga Viktoria Hensel (Department of Medicine 1): MS: Neuro-Epithelial Crosstalk and Gut Dysfunction

• Dr. rer. nat. Michael Hiltensperger (Institute of Microbiology): Epitope-specific CD4 T cell responses in tonsils

• Dr. med. dent. Leah Trumet (Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology): PERIOralPATHology

• Dr. med. Henriette Mandelbaum (Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine): ULM for imaging biomarkers in kidney disease

• Dr. rer. nat. Tim Aberle (Institute of Biochemistry – Chair of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry): The role of Casr in oligodendrocyte development

• Dr. med. Julia Scholz (Department of Medicine 5): Impact of lymphoma inflammation on B cells

• Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Wilferth (Institute of Radiology): Improved MRI fat/water separation at 7 Tesla

The junior scientist programme is designed to enable successful applicants to prepare and submit their own first application to an external funding organisation within a funding period of 30 months.