News from the Institute

IBC2 Director Ivan Đikić is awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Rijeka. The Senate of the University of Rijeka decided in accordance with the expert committee for the evaluation of proposals on awarding Ivan Đikić the GRADUS DOCTORIS HONORIS CAUSA for his outstanding contribution to science, scientific education and popularization of science, as well as an exceptional contribution and advices for the development of the University of Rijeka.
The honorary doctorate acceptance ceremony was held at the University of Rijeka on July 4th 2023.
 

This year German Association for Aging Research (DGfA) has organized the Annual meeting in Jena. By welcoming scientists from all over Germany and worldwide, the Community of Aging Researchers ensured high-quality scientific discussions, exciting talks and poster presentations. This year a major focus was on the inter-organ communication in ageing and the interplay between stress and immunity responses leading to the host metabolism reprogramming. Connecting basic science to translational ageing research and clinical trials, the conference ensured a broad overview of underlying molecular mechanisms and future therapeutic approaches in ageing-related diseases. The prize for the best oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the German Association for Aging Research 2023 was awarded to Ines Tomaskovic for her presentation: “Gender and phenotype bias in loss-of-SPRTN-driven Progeroid Syndrome”.

The UCT (Universitäres Centrum für Tumorerkrankungen, University Cancer Center) science conference on 21.06.23 was organized jointly between the Philipps University of Marburg and the Goethe University of Frankfurt. It entails a diverse program in translational cancer research from basic science to clinical trials. The prize for the best oral presentation at the UCT conference was awarded to Lina Herhaus for her presentation: Tumor immune evasion through IRGQ-directed autophagy.

Mitochondria play a crucial role in various cellular functions, necessitating the maintenance of proper protein functionality through protein quality control pathways. When mitochondria experience protein misfolding stress, they initiate a transcriptional response to enhance the expression of mitochondrial chaperones and proteases. This process, known as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), aims to restore proteostasis within the mitochondria. Although the UPRmt was discovered more than two decades ago, the exact signaling pathway by which mitochondria communicate with the nucleus to activate the UPRmt in humans has remained elusive.
 

Following the unexpected announcement of Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) to stop core funding for its Center for Protein Research (CPR) in Copenhagen after 2024, former members of CPR’s Scientific Advisory Board have published an article in EMBO reports to highlight the hidden risks of jointly funded, “mission-driven” projects. The authors – amongst them IBC2 director Ivan Đikić – highlight the importance of protecting funding for basic research to enable pioneering discoveries. They propose to establish standards for funding bodies to ensure transparency and consistency. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a vibrant basic research community for the benefit of society and future generations.