From molecules to diseases

While you are reading this, your brain is processing all incoming information, while at the same time controlling the muscles of your eyes. How can brain and muscle cells communicate with each other, and how is this signal finally translated into the physical movement of your eyes? Essentially involved in this process are calcium channels, controlling not only neuronal excitability and muscle contraction, but also many other mechanisms such as gene transcription and hormone secretion. It is therefore not surprising that even a small defect in a calcium channel can lead to disease...

Did you know that heavy metals and their compounds are not only notorious poisons or jewelry materials but also indispensable drugs in chemotherapy and imaging diagnostics, representing a several-billion-dollar-a-year industry? Platinum complexes, for instance, are among the most widely used anti-cancer agents today. During the talk, you will learn more about the prominent role of metal compounds in modern medicine. Recent advances in metallodrug development with examples from research conducted in our Labs will also be presented.