6 Dec, 2017
Second International RTG Symposium Genes, Environment and Inflammation
2nd International RTG 1743 Symposium:
Genes, Environment and Inflammation
June 7th- 8th, 2018
Center of Molecular Bio Sciences (ZMB), Kiel
Save the date: During the RTG's International Symposium in Kiel, scientists and RTG members discuss the latest insights into the interactions between genes, environment and inflammation.

June 7, 2018 | |
Science Day | |
08:30-09:00 | Welcome (Andre Franke, Milda Resch) |
Session I | GENES (Chair: Antonella Fazio and Isabelle Relling) |
09:00-09:35 | Genomic data illuminates demography, genetic structure and micro evolutionary processes in human populations Vaidutis Kucinskas (Human Genome Research Center, Lithuania) |
09:45-10:15 | Transcriptional and chromatin-mediated control of inflammation Gioacchino Natoli (Humanitas University, Italy) |
10:15-10:45 | Coffee Break - Poster Session |
10:45-11:20 | Pathological adipose remodeling and disease – human genetic insights Robert Semple (University of Edinburgh, UK) |
11:25-12:00 | Genetics and inflammatory skin disease Michael Simpson (King’s College London, UK) |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch break |
Session II | ENVIRONMENT (Chair: Nathalie Loeper and Lena Baumecker) |
13:00-13:35 | Chlamydiae in the environment - about the value of studying non-model organisms Matthias Horn (University of Vienna, Austria) |
13:40-14:15 | Remote control of antitumoral immunity by the gut microbiota Mathias Chamaillard (Institute Pasteur, France) |
Session III | INFLAMMATION (Chair: Mareike Wendorff and Foteini Beltsiou) |
14:20-14:55 | Vitamin D receptor regulates microbiome in inflammation and cancer: a story beyond bone Jun Sun (University of Illinois, USA) |
14:55-15:25 | Coffee Break - Poster Session |
15:25-16:00 | Nucleic acid immunity: recent insight and implications for immunooncology Gunther Hartmann (University of Bonn, Germany) |
16:05-16:40 | Large-scale T cell epitope discovery: efficient methods to predict peptide-MHC binding and generate peptide-MHC tetramers Sören Buus (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) |
16:45-17:00 | Closing Remarks |
June 8, 2018 | |
Career Day | |
08:15-08:30 | Welcome & final registration for workshops |
Session I | Career paths outside academia |
08:30-09:00 | Dr. Wei Hung Pan Creative Clinical Research (CCR)GmbH Berlin – Biostatistician |
09:00-09:30 | Nadine Sydow Solvoluta GmbH – From bench to business |
09:30-10:00 | Dr. Markus Cavalar Euroimmun AG – Head of Molecular Infectious Diagnostics |
10:00-10:30 | Coffee break |
10:30-11:00 | Eike Feldmann Astra Zeneca – Quality Assurance Manager |
11:00-11:30 | Dr. Volker El-Samalouti Laboratory for Clinical Research (LKF) – Head of Laboratory |
11:30-12:15 | Academia or Industry – Pros& Cons Panel Discussion with Dr. Markus Cavalar (Industry), Prof. Astrid Dempfle (Academia) and Prof. Vaidutis Kucinskas (Academia) |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch break |
Session II | Hands on your career path (registration required) |
13:00-15:00 | Workshop Writing a CV and cover letter, interpreting job ads |
15:00-17:00 | Workshop Job interview and salary negotiation, assessment center |
Confirmed speakers:
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Matthias Horn At the University of Vienna he now holds a professorship for Microbial Symbioses at the Department of Microbial Ecology and Ecosystem Science. Research topics: microbial symbioses, evolution of intracellular bacteria, microbial genome evolution and interplay of intracellular bacteria and eukaryotic host cells. |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Vaidutis Kucinskas Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University; Centre for Medical Genetics of Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos (Lithuania) Research topics: human genome diversity and genetic process in human populations |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Gioacchino Natoli Full professor of Biochemistry at the Humanitas University of Milan (Italy). Research topics: genomics and next generation sequencing technologies, transcriptional and epigenetic control of inflammation, transcriptional control of pancreatic tumorigenesis |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Sören Buus Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology of the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). Head of the laboratory of experimental immunology. Research topics: immunology and the immune Defence, The Structure of MHC Molecules, Vaccines. |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Jun Sun Prof. Dr. Jun Sun completed her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Toxicology and Pharmacology Institute in China. The Sun research group is currently housed at the University of Illinois in Chicago within the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Research topics: Dr. Sun's group established a Salmonella-infected colon cancer model and was the first to demonstrate Salmonella regulation of intestinal stem cells. Additionally, Dr. Sun's group studies the role of the Vitamin D receptor in maintaining homeostasis of the gut microbiome. |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Michael Simpson Professor at the department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at the King's College of London (UK), head of the genomic medicine group. Research topics: understand the role of genomic variation in human diseases and traits |
![]() |
Prof. Dr. Robert Semple Chair of translational molecular medicine, center for cardiovascular science of the University of Edinburgh. Research topics: causes and consequences of abnormal insulin action in human disease |
![]() |
Dr. Volker El-Samalouti After studying biology at the Kiel Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Dr. El-Samalouti focused on cellular immunology for his PhD at the Research Center Borstel. Afterwards, he started working at the Laboratory for Clinical Trials in Kiel. At the company, he experienced a steep career and became the Head of Laboratory/General Manager within less than eight years where he has been contributing to the success of the company. The Laboratory for Clinical Trials is a specialized medical laboratory unit dedicated exclusively to supporting clinical trials of phases I-IV. |
![]() |
Dr. Markus Cavalar As the head of molecular infection diagnostics at EUROIMMUN in Lübeck, Dr. Cavalar has more than ten years of working experience in pharmaceutical as well as medical companies. Having a diploma in Biology from RWTH Aachen and he gathered experience in sales, working directly in laboratories as a lab manager and project leader before joining EUROIMMUN in northern Germany. EUROIMMUN is a world leader in the field of medical diagnostics. The areas of expertise are supported by a strong scientific team committed to improving healthcare by delivering innovative, clinically relevant diagnostic assays. |
![]() |
Nadine Sydow Ms. Sydow was studying biology and working in the group for Functional Morphology and Biomechanics at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel when she invented a substance that was worth turning into a product. In 2015, she founded the company Solvoluta. Solvoluta is a start-up in biological material sciences that develops ecologically innovative research to market maturity. It focuses on pesticide-free pest control. Ms. Sydow’s team wants to develop new products for a greener future through cooperation with manufacturing partners, the CAU in Kiel, the Land Schleswig-Holstein and other research institutions. |
![]() |
Eike Feldmann After her successful studies in pharmacy at Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Ms. Feldmann has been working at AstraZeneca, primarily in the field of Quality Assurance. She has worked as a pharmacist, quality officer, head of packaging and has had various roles in Quality Assurance. Parallel to her work at AstraZeneca, Mr. Feldmann is a popular health coach specializing in stress reduction by offering easiness strategy sessions as well as workshops. |
![]() |
Dr. Wei Hung Pan Dr. Pan is an alumnus from the first generation of the RTG 1743 doctoral students. He is a mathematician by training and obtained his first degree in applied mathematics with a major in statistics at the National Sun Yet San University in Taiwan. He then moved on to obtain his PhD at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel. After successfully obtaining his degree, he started working as a biostatistician for CCR GmbH (Creative Clinical Research) in Berlin. CCR provides medical scientific consulting in the area of clinical research to pharmaceutical companies. |
![]() |
Center of Molecular Bio Sciences: ZMBAm Botanischen Garten 1124118 Kiel |