News
May 2026
The SFB 1506 – Aging at Interfaces is heading into its second round!
PD Dr. Bernd Baumann and Prof. Dr. Franz Oswald are back on board as principal investigators with their project “Notch/NF-kB crosstalk at the aging synapse: Role of inflammaging on cognitive decline”! Congratulations!
May 2026
Another publication to celebrate!
Ziwei Du and the group led by Prof. Thomas Wirth have published their study on key mechanisms of the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway in the development of pancreatic cancer. They demonstrated that NIK possesses tumor-suppressive functions and that the loss of this kinase is associated with accelerated development of precancerous lesions.
March 2026
Great teamwork!
In a collaborative study between the Institute of Physical Chemistry and the Institute for Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Tabea Hein and Ester Nespoli were able to demonstrate that the transcription factor NF-κB plays a key role in post-traumatic responses following traumatic brain injury.
For more information, see the University of Ulm press release or visit doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70304-7.
October 2025
We congratulate Ziwei Du on successfully completing her doctoral thesis in medicine!
During her time at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry, she studied the role of the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer.
We wish her all the best and every success in her future professional and personal endeavors in China!
July 2025
Dr. Ushmorov’s research group and former members are pleased to announce the publication of their paper, “Beyond FOXO1: AS1842856 inhibits GSK3 to enhance cytotoxic effects in B-ALL.”
The study investigates new therapeutic targets for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and was published in Blood Advances.
March 2025
Congratulations, Tabea!
Tabea Hein has successfully defended her doctoral thesis on NF-κB activation in astrocytes following traumatic brain injury. In her work, she and the Baumann research group demonstrated that the constitutive activation of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway leads to delayed wound healing after TBI.
May 2024
We have another outstanding publication to celebrate!
The group led by Thomas Wirth with Miltiadias Tsesmelis as first author published their insights on the impact of the NF-κB signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer in Molecular Cancers. In this study, Miltos investigated the role of NEMO, a key modulator of the NF-κB signaling pathway, and discovered that exerts both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions.
November 2023
Congratulations to Dr. Alexey Ushmorov and his group, but especially to his medical doctoral student Tatjana Wolffhardt!
Together, they investigated the role of MEN1 in hematopoietic cancers and were able to demonstrate that this goes beyond the MEN1-KMT2A interaction.
August 2023
We are thrilled to anounce Konstantinos’s publication in Aging Cell!
In his study, he investigated the effects of redox imbalance in astrocytes. Kostas demonstrated that oxidative stress in astrocytes plays a crucial role in the aging of the central nervous system.
June 2023
Congratulations, Judith and Kostas!
Judith Schlett and Konstantinos Tsesmelis sucessfully defend their PhD thesis. Judith worked on the role of NF-kB in oligodendrocytes and Kostas PhD project dealed with the consequences of increased oxidative stress in astrocytes.
March 2023
Congratulations to PD Dr. Bernd Baumann and his group, especially to Judith Schlett and Dr. Melanie Mettang as first authors, for publishing in Molecular Neurodegeneration. They could show that NF-kB in oligodendrocytes plays a role in white matter degeneration.
May 2022
Militadis Tsesmelis defends his PhD-Thesis!
Congratulations, Miltos!
During his PhD, he discovered that NEMO, an essential protein for the activation of the NF-κB pathway, supports metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells to the liver through the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Parts of his work have been published in the MDPI Journal Cancers. We are happy to keep Miltos as a Post Doc in our group!
March 2022
Congratulations, Dr. Franz Ketzer!
Franz successfully defends his Ph.D. thesis. He discovered an essential role of Cyclin D3 in the proliferation and survival program of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Parts of his thesis have been published in the Nature Journal Oncogenesis. Franz will continue his career as Post Doc in the Lab of Marcus Müschen at Yale School of Medicine!
January 2022
The new SFB 1506- Aging at Interfaces is starting!
PD Dr. Bernd Baumann and Prof. Dr. Franz Oswald are PIs of project A05 "Notch/NF-kB crosstalk at the aging synapse: Role of inflammaging on cognitive decline"! Congratulations!
Ulrike successfully defends her master´s thesis "Rapid degradation of endogenous FOXO1 in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia for identification of direct regulatory targets" and graduated from the Master Programme Molecular Medicine. After doing her bachelor´s thesis and master´s thesis in the field of leukemia, she is now switching sides, but luckily staying with us at the institute of physiological chemistry. She will start her PhD project about pancreatic cancer in April!
December 2021
Congratulations to the Ushmorov group and especially to Franz Ketzer as the first author. They published the article “CCND3 is indispensable for the maintenance of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia” in the Nature Journal Oncogenesis. They identified the direct transcriptional regulation of CCND3 by FOXO1 and demonstrated why CCND3 depletion might be superior to inhibition of its associated kinases CDK4/6 in B-ALL.
CCND3 is indispensable for the maintenance of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
October 2021
Great News. Congratulations to PD Dr. Bernd Baumann and his group! In this publication they show, that NF-kB activation in astrocytes can have a positive effect on microglia polarization and therefore ameliorate the burden of Aß deposition.
September 2021
Congratulations to Miltiadis! He published parts of his PhD project! Within the publication "Deletion of NEMO Inhibits EMT and Reduces Metastasis in KPC Mice" they show that in the absence of NEMO, KPC mice exhibit extended survival, which is accompanied by a strong reduction in the development of liver metastasis and ascites.
Dr. Franziska Gehringer and Dr. Alexey Ushmorov publish a “Blood”commentary to the article “SGK1 mutations in DLBCL generate hyperstable protein neoisoforms that promote AKT independence” entitled "Hyperstable SGK1 steps out of AKT’s shadow".
November 2020
Congratulations, Dr. Trojanowski! Bernadette worked within her PhD project on the mechanisms of IKK/NF-kB dependent diabetes development and regeneration!
July 2020
We are happy that our group was able to publish a new review article about pancreatic cancer and tumor microenvironment!
Congrats to Nadine and Miltiadis!
Crosstalk between Tumor and Stromal Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
April 2020
Welcome to the group, Tabea Hein!
Tabea will work within the Trauma SFB 1149 on the role of NF-kB in Microglia after Traumatic Brain Injury!
March 2020
Franziska Gehringer defends her PhD thesis with distinction! In the group of Dr. Alexey Ushmorov she investigated how important the regulation of the PTEN-PI3K-AKT axis and FOXO1 for maintainence of Burkitt lymphoma is! Congratulations Dr. Gehringer!
Christine Rüppel graduates as M.Sc. Molecular Medicine. During her Master Thesis in the Group of Dr. Alexey Ushmorov, supervised by Franziska Gehringer, she worked on the role of FOXO transcrption factors in B cell lymphomas! Congratulations!