Institute for Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical biology
The Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Clinical Pharmacy, led by Prof. Johanna Pachmayr, focuses on the pharmacological testing of new biogenic and synthetic drugs, as well as the characterization of new drug targets. The department is expanding its scope to include pharmacoeconomic aspects and the evaluation and optimization of pharmacotherapy for specific patient groups.
Research areas
Cancer is the second leading cause of death and remains a significant public health issue. The number of new cases is rising, and many types of cancer are difficult to treat due to the development of resistance. In the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, we address this problem by focusing on the mechanisms involved in tumor pathogenesis, progression, and therapy resistance. Our research aims to optimize existing cancer therapies and reduce side effects by combining approved drugs to lower dosages. A key area of interest in our projects is exploring natural compounds as a potential new approach to treating various cancers.
Thyroid cancer is a rare disease with a relatively good prognosis. However, resistance to radioiodine or Lenvatinib therapy is becoming more common, quickly exhausting the available treatment options. We compare healthy tissue with cancerous tissue to identify new therapeutic targets, aiming to increase the efficiency of the multi-kinase inhibitor Lenvatinib. In collaboration with the clinic, patient samples are subjected to mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. We use the insights gained from this analysis in our models to develop new combination therapy approaches for clinical application.
Cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk5 is an intriguing target for cancer therapy. Discovered in the 1990s, Cdk5 was long considered a "neuronal kinase" because it regulates neuronal development in the central nervous system and is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In recent years, however, more non-neuronal functions of Cdk5 have been identified. We have shown that inhibiting Cdk5 in tumors can suppress tumor growth. As a result, our research in Pharmaceutical Biology focuses on Cdk5 as a promising therapeutic target in thyroid cancer, liver cancer (HCC), and bile duct cancer (BTC).
Chalcones and dihydrochalcones are secondary plant compounds that belong to the flavonoid group. Various chalcones have already been shown to have anti-cancer effects in different tumor types. The dihydrochalcone MF-15, an extract from the Vietnamese cheesewood tree, has been found to reduce the growth of resistant prostate cancer cells in both 2D and 3D cell culture experiments. We are investigating the effects of MF-15 and structurally related compounds on the growth of DTC, HCC, and breast cancer cells. In addition, we are focusing on uncovering the underlying mechanism of action of dihydrochalcones.
Ausstattung & Geräte
The 5804R centrifuge is a high-speed benchtop centrifuge designed for molecular biology applications. It can centrifuge samples, either cooled or uncooled, at speeds of up to 14,000 rpm. The centrifuge is equipped with adapters for 15/50 ml centrifuge tubes and various multiwell plates.
The F50 plate reader from Tecan is ideal for quick and simple absorption measurements. The device includes a filter wheel with the following filters: 405, 450, 492, 595, and 620 nm.
The Tecan Spark Plate Reader with integrated Fusion Optics (combining both filter and monochromator technology) and an imaging module is used for measuring absorption, fluorescence, luminescence, HTRF, and fluorescence polarization. Using the NanoQuant Plate, RNA/DNA quantification can also be performed. The integrated heating module, CO2 supply, and humidity cassette enable long-term measurements of cell-based assays. An additional feature allows for cell counting using the device. The Tecan Spark Plate Reader is equipped with the following filters:
| Extinctions filter | Emissions filter |
| 320 (25 nm) | 465 (35 nm) |
| 340 (20 nm) | 535 (10 nm) |
| 485 (20 nm) | 590 (10 nm) |
| 530 (25 nm) | 620 (10 nm) |
| 560 (10 nm) | 665 (8.5 nm) |
| 590 (20 nm) | 680 (30 nm) |
The CKX53F microscope from Olympus, including a SC50 5-megapixel color camera, is ideal for the daily monitoring of cultured cells. The microscope is equipped with three objectives: 4x, 10x, and 40x.
The ChemiDoc Imaging System from Bio-Rad is designed for the analysis of stain-free gels and blots, as well as for detecting chemiluminescence signals. Additionally, the system can be used to analyze agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide or GelRed, as well as gels stained with Coomassie.
The CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR System from Bio-Rad is used for gene expression analysis in biological samples. It is a 6-channel device capable of measuring five colors (including SYBR Green) as well as a FRET channel.
Contact person
