Graduiertenkolleg 1048 "Organogenese"

Developmental Biology is one of the most exciting and fast moving fields of modern biology. Its research aims at understanding the principles of morphogenesis and pattern formation leading to the establishment of a fully functional, healthy organism. A similarly important goal is, by studying normal development, to contribute to the elucidation of mechanisms that lead to pathological development and disease. The knock-out mouse technology has broadened the study field for developmental biologists and serves the above mentioned goals as do the other recently emerging study objects, the small aquarium fish models zebrafish and medaka.

Würzburg has a strong Developmental Biology oriented research community. The first funding period of the graduate college 1048: Molecular basis of organ development in vertebrates was a great success, leading to the education of several well-trained and productive young scientists in this field. The coordination of research in the field of Developmental Biology with a special emphasis on organogenesis provides the crystallization point for collaborations that without this graduate college would not have taken place. In this initiative we have brought together a group of scientists who share a common interest in Developmental Biology.