Research Training Group iMOL funded

The Research Training Group (GRK) iMOL – Interfacing Image Analysis and Molecular Life Science – has been granted renewed funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Research Training Groups (GRKs) are structured doctoral programmes funded by the DFG that provide excellent scientific training and a collaborative research environment for PhD students. They offer interdisciplinary education, promote close mentoring, and enable students to engage in cutting-edge research projects within a focused thematic framework.

The iMOL programme trains PhD students in the theory and practice of advanced microscopy techniques and state-of-the-art image analysis, applying these approaches primarily to neuroscience. Microscopy is crucial for understanding the fundamental principles of life across multiple spatial and temporal scales and resolutions. Recent advances in light and electron microscopy have significantly expanded our insight into biological processes.

iMOL emphasizes neuroscience applications such as:

·       The analysis of cell-cell junctions between epithelial cells that influence the blood-brain barrier,

·       The interplay of vascular and neuronal structures during development to form functional organs,

·       Investigating neurodegeneration, particularly the impact of extracellular amyloid plaque formation.