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Technology Feature in Nature Methods How Nanobodies are Changing Biomedical Research
The Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is featured in a recent article in the renowned journal Nature Methods. In the technology feature “What nanobodies can do for you,” science journalist Vivien Marx highlights the rapid development of so-called nanobodies—particularly small antibodies that open up new possibilities in basic research, diagnostics, and cancer therapy. Researchers at the UDE are portrayed as key players in this field.
Add-On Fellowship
Congratulations to Mike Blüggel on receving the Joachim-Herz Add-on Fellowship for "innovative tumor treatment project"!
His project "SuNdowner", explores light-controlled protein degradation using nanobody-PHOTACs in collaboration with UDE’s Faculty of Chemistry. The goal is to combine PHOTACs with nanobodies to enable targeted degradation of the apoptosis inhibitor Survivin in tumor tissue, thereby protecting healty tissue. The fellowship enables research stays, conference attendance, training, science communication activities, and participation in fellowship meetings.
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung funds a novel approach to targeted protein degradation A New Path in Personalized Cancer Therapy through Nanobody PROTACs
[13.10.2025] Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung will fund a new research project starting in October 2025 that explores tumor-specific protein degradation strategies. The goal is to develop novel therapeutic approaches for head and neck cancers, including laryngeal carcinoma.
The team led by Dr. Mike Blüggel at the Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB) is developing tailored nanobody-based PROTACs designed to selectively target the survival enzyme Survivin. Survivin plays a central role in the development of various cancers and contributes to resistance against radiation and chemotherapy. To date, it has remained difficult to reach therapeutically. For the first time, the researchers aim to achieve differentiated tumor targeting based on the specific Survivin–E3 ligase profiles of cancer cells.
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November 2025 EMBL Course
Im November 2025 war die Nachwuchsgruppe Functional Biochemistry eine Woche am Deutschen Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg, um am EMBL-Kurs „SAXS for Biological Macromolecules“ teilzunehmen.
An der P12-Beamline konnten wir eigene Proben unserer Forschungsprojekte messen und den gesamten Workflow von der Probenvorbereitung über die Bestrahlung bis zur ersten Datenauswertung praktisch durchlaufen. Der Kurs wurde ergänzt durch Vorträge und Workshops zu Theorie, Datenqualität und Auswertung. Besonders bereichernd war der intensive Austausch mit den anderen Teilnehmenden und dem Beamline-Team: In fachlichen Diskussionen entstanden neue Ideen, wie SAXS mit komplementären biophysikalischen und biochemischen Methoden kombiniert werden kann, um Protein–Protein-Interaktionen und Konformationsdynamik besser zu verstehen.
Das erworbene Know-how fließt nun direkt in unsere laufenden Projekte ein und erweitert nachhaltig das methodische Spektrum unserer Arbeitsgruppe.
Research project on leukaemia in children A new, twofold approach
[13.10.2025] Scientists at the University of Duisburg-Essen are researching new therapies for aggressive forms of childhood leukaemia. For the first time, their approach tries to distinguish between two subtypes using so-called nanobody PROTACs. These attack diseased tissue while sparing healthy cells. The José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation is supporting the project, led by Prof. Dr. Shirley Knauer and Dr. Mike Blueggel from the Faculty of Biology, with 143,740 euros for two years.
Latest Publication Molecular Tweezers Block the Functional Pore of a Protein Machin
[May 2025] We present symmetric multivalent tweezers as the first class of supramolecular elements designed to cover and functionally block a protein pore. As a model, we chose the enzyme p97, a hexameric AAA-ATPase that unfolds or segregates substrate proteins by threading them through a pore and channel at the center of the symmetric p97 hexamer fueled by ATP hydrolysis. In a rational design approach, we developed a new class of p97 inhibitors, guided by molecular modeling.
Seit April 2025 Board Member der GBM Young Investigators
Seit April 2025 ist Mike Blüggel steering board member der Young Investigators der Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie e.V. aktiv. Die GBM YI sind ein Netzwerk von Senior-Postdocs und jungen GruppenleiterInnen, das den Austausch zu Karrierewegen, Forschungsstrategien und Kooperationsmöglichkeiten fördert. Als Teil des Steering Boards gestaltet Dr. Blüggel unter anderem Veranstaltungen, Vernetzungsformate und Mentoring-Angebote mit, die junge Forschende auf dem Weg zur wissenschaftlichen Unabhängigkeit unterstützen.