Precisely controlled communication processes within and between cells are essential for the function of an organism as a whole, as well as for the function of its various organ systems. Understanding these communication processes in the physiological and pathological immune system on a molecular level is the goal of CRC 854, "Molecular Organisation of the Cellular Communication in the Immune System". Researchers at the University of Magdeburg hope to gain deeper insight into the molecular regulation of immune processes and, at the same time, mutually benefit neurobiology and immunology. The topic of signal transmission in cells of the immune system will be considered from a new perspective using knowledge of well-studied signal transmission processes in the nerve system(Host university: Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg; spokesperson: Professor Burkhart Schraven; other university involved with the proposal: Free University in Berlin; participating institutions: Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig; Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg)

What are the causes of the success and failure of reforms? And how do interests and other reform contexts influence the outcome? These highly relevant issues are the focus of CRC 884, "The Political Economy of Reforms". Mannheim researchers with backgrounds in economics and political science will be concentrating, in particular, on reform processes in welfare states. The goal of this interdisciplinary research project is to improve the theoretical and empirical basis of quantitative research for social decision making in general and specifically, for reforms. (Host university: University of Mannheim; spokesperson: Professor Thomas K-nig; participating institution: Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Mannheim)

How are molecular and cellular mechanisms in nerve cells translated, via neuronal circuits, into higher-level brain functions? CRC 870, "Assembly and Function of Neuronal Circuits in Sensory Processing", addresses this question. The scientists in Munich plan to study neuronal circuits of various model organisms and thereby enhance the understanding of information processing in sensory systems with respect to development and plasticity. Their long-term goal is to better understand complex sensory-processing mechanisms at a neuronal-circuit level. (Host university: Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich; spokesperson: Professor Benedikt Grothe; participating institutions: Technical University of Munich; Helmholtz-Zentrum M-nchen; German Research Center for Environmental Health, Oberschlei-heim; Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Planegg)

CRC 863, "Forces in Biomolecular Systems", combines physics, biophysics, biochemistry and cell biology using both experimental and theoretical approaches. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich thereby plan to further research and calculate the forces of mechanical processes, from the individual molecule to complex biomolecular networks. They aim to establish a broad application potential for diverse areas, including nanotechnology. (Host university: Technical University of Munich; spokesperson: Professor Matthias Rief; participating institutions: Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich; Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried)

In CRC 858, "Synergetic Effects in Chemistry - From Additivity to Cooperativity", researchers at the University of M-nster (WWU) aim to establish the term cooperativity as a reaction principle in chemistry. With an interdisciplinary approach, cooperative effects are to be used to activate chemical systems. In this way, chemical reactivity can be used more efficiently, and chemical systems can be more precisely structured. (Host university: University of M-nster (WWU); spokesperson: Professor Armido Studer)

The cellular organisms of Roseobacter clade bacteria are of central importance to the material balance of the world's oceans, particularly to their carbon balance and, thus, to the ecology of the entire planet. CRC/Transregio 51, "Ecology, Physiology and Molecular Biology of the Roseobacter Clade - Towards a Systems Biology Understanding of a Globally Important Clade of Marine Bacteria", aims to study this bacteria group in greater detail. To accomplish this, scientists from Oldenburg, Braunschweig and G-ttingen with backgrounds in marine microbial ecology, bacterial physiology, chemistry, genetics and computer science, will work closely together. They plan to research the evolutionary, genetic and physiological principles comprising the secret to the success of the bacteria group at the focus of the project. (Host university: Carl von Ossietzky Univeristy of Oldenburg; spokesperson: Professor Meinhard Simon; cooperative partner: Carolo-Wilhelmina Technical University of Braunschweig; participating institutions: Georg-August-University of G-ttingen; German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Braunschweig; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig)

CRC/Transregio 75, "Drop-Dynamic Processes Under Extreme Environmental Conditions", focuses on drops, which play a central role in many areas of nature and technology, such as in the combustion chambers of rocket engines, in diesel engines and in the creation of solid particles. Researchers in Stuttgart hope to gain a deeper physical understanding of processes involving drops in extreme environments. For example, methods for the analytical and numerical description of these processes are to be demonstrated and put into practice. Emphasis is to be placed on more precisely predicting the course of the processes and obtaining a better understanding of the elementary processes, thereby allowing larger systems in nature or in technical installations to be more accurately predicted. (Host university: University of Stuttgart; spokesperson: Professor Bernhard Weigand; participating institutions: Technical University of Darmstadt; German Aerospace Center (DLR), Lampoldshausen)

Source: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft