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Research Centers and Networks

Collaborative Research Center 958 "Scaffolding of Membranes - Molecular Mechanisms and Cellular Functions"

Spatiotemporally controlled assembly of protein scaffolds at membranes plays crucial roles in membrane traffic and remodelling, cell signalling, as well as in differentiation and development. The collaborative research centre aims at elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which dynamically organized protein-protein assemblies scaffold cellular membranes and exert cellular functions.
(Speaker: Stephan Sigrist, Freie Universität Berlin; Partner: Freie Universität Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung, Forschungsinstitut für molekulare Pharmakologie, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin)

Collaborative Research Center 1078 “Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function”

The central research goal of the SFB 1078 is to identify and understand a new key principal in protein science, namely the control and coordination of complex protein function by protonation dynamics. The goal is to understand, by means of exemplary investigations on the four selected protein systems, the role of protonation dynamics in protein function at a basic physical-chemical level. To achieve this goal, a combination of new biophysical experiments with molecular simulations and quantum-chemical computations is used. Albeit the research program is focused on basic questions, it could inspire new approaches in energy sciences and support the development of new tools in medical sciences and biotechnology.
(Speaker: Holger Dau, Freie Universität Berlin; Partner: Freie Universität Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Forschungsinstitut für molekulare Pharmakologie, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin)

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Other Infrastructural and Research Networks

Core Facility BioSupraMol

In recent years the equipment for the analysis of biomacromolecular and supramolecular compounds has been grouped into priority units and networked. Further progress was made in networking the units with external partners at regional and international levels. BioSupraMol emerged from this as an independent Core Facility, consisting at present of five units.

The aim of the Core Facility is, to help scientists and students of the Freie Universität Berlin, in particular those of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy at the FU Berlin as well as external scientists in solving complex analytical issues by an experienced staff.

Research Building SupraFAB (in operation April 2021)

In 2015, Freie Universität successfully garnered financial support for a new research building, which will be situated in the center of its natural science campus in Berlin-Dahlem. The new research building for „supramolecular functional architectures at biointerfaces“ (SupraFAB) will be completed early 2021 and opened in the same year. The long-term objectives of research in SupraFAB focus on the molecular understanding of the function of neuronal communication and pathogen-cell interactions at biointerfaces. The new building will offer special infrastructure and large-scale scientific instruments for biointerface analytics, as well as highly specialized laboratories, clean room and biosafety labs (BSL2) for biointerface related research. SupraFAB will be home to 110 scientists, including newly appointed researchers and JRGs.

The new research building SupraFAB will closely interact with the Core Facility BioSupraMol and offers new state-of-the-art infrastructure for (bio)surface characterization, like solid state NMR and advanced Optical- and Electron-Microscopy.