History & Mission
The IMTB was founded January 2008 as an experimental medical research institute. The building is situated at the south-east side of the medical campus bound to a large garden, both part of a former children hospital.
Institute Chair: Prof. rer. nat. Michael Meisterernst
The IMTB presently hosts two independent research departments:
Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Biology (since 2008)
Director: Prof. Dr. Michael Meisterernst
Group Leader: Dr. Andrea Oeckinghaus (since 2018)
Laboratory for Stem cell Biology (since 2011)
Director: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Frank Rosenbauer
Health and disease status of mammalian cells are intimately connected to the inherent gene expression programs. Biological or pathological processes usually affect these programs. In the laboratories of the IMTB we study the mechanistic basis of cellular programs at the level of signaling and gene control mammalian cells. Broadly, groups are interested in understanding the general and specific mechanisms that control transformation and differentiation of mammalian cells. In collaboration with the Hematology of the University hospital Münster (UKM) and the Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine we investigate the hematopoietic system, human tumors and mouse embryonic stem cells. Disease models range from leukemia to pancreatic tumors and tuberous sclerosis. Specific focus at the molecular level is on cofactors of gene transcription by RNA polymerase II, control and function of the small GTPase Ral and gene regulation in chromatin by the gene regulatory factor Pu.1.
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology (director Michael Meisterernst)
Laboratory of Molecular Stem Cell Biology (director Frank Rosenbauer)
Junior Research Group (group leader Andrea Oeckinghaus)