| | |  | | NEWSLETTER ::: NO. 17 ::: DEC 2018 | | A PASSION FOR COMPLEX PROBLEMS: INTERVIEW WITH SOEREN LIENKAMP | In January 2019, Soeren Lienkamp will join the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Zurich (UZH). He has been appointed Assistant Professor
of Molecular Medicine in Anatomy. | Just this summer, the 40-year-old German was awarded an ERC Starting Grant from the European Research Council. Prior to his upcoming move to Switzerland, Lienkamp worked in the Renal Division at the University Hospital Freiburg. Since 2014, he has also headed an independent Emmy Noether research group funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and he is a member of the “NEOCYST” research network.
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WHY DID YOU SPECIALIZE IN NEPHROLOGY AND DID NOT CHOOSE A DIFFERENT MEDICAL AREA?
I like people and I love to tackle complex problems. Nephrology encompasses exactly those two aspects. Kidneys control so many vital processes of the human body and on top of that patients with a renal disease are often very challenging to take care of. So, if you treat patients with renal diseases you get to know them very well, in all their complexity. Joining the Department of Nephrology in Freiburg gave me a broad and sound training in internal medicine, since it takes in patients with a wide spectrum of medical conditions, not just kidney-related problems.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSSING ON WITH YOUR RESEARCH?
I am really interested in how the kidney forms during embryonic development. We still understand too little about how the forces that shape this intricate organ are controlled and how they go astray in genetic kidney disease. Also, we study the similarities between kidney formation in tadpoles and mammals to understand the workings of core molecular players that drive renal development.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF THE PRESTIGIOUS ERC GRANTS; WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THIS FUNDING OFFER YOU?
We recently found that only four genes sufficed to turn skin cells (fibroblasts) into a kidney-like state. This so-called direct reprogramming can teach us a lot about how renal cell identity is controlled and help us to understand kidney disease better. The 1.5 million euros from the ERC Starting Grant allow us to bring this technology closer to a tool that could benefit patients in the future. For example, we plan to simulate kidney disease in the Petri dish or test drugs on patient-derived cells.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO LEAVE FREIBURG AND FURTHER PURSUE YOUR CAREER IN ZURICH?
As much as I enjoyed patient care, I felt the strong urge to focus more on research. The excellent environment in Zurich plus the unique Kidney.CH consortium offer exciting new opportunities. I admit that I dread moving my lab to a new location a little; but fortunately three members of my team will join me in Zurich and the support I am already receiving to set things up is enormous.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT DOES THE NCCR KIDNEY.CH OFFER TO A RESEARCHER SUCH AS YOURSELF? WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE IN PARTICULAR?
It’s mostly the exchange of ideas and intellectual input from this group of superb kidney research teams. We have already started several collaboration projects, even though I’m not yet in Zurich. What more could I ask for? So, I can’t wait to start with all the new experiments I want to pursue.
WHAT ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
I’m mostly focused on what I would like to do. Most of all I hope to build a great team, and to make exciting findings. I find the transition of molecular biology into quantitative science extremely fascinating. And we still don’t know what a third of the human genes do! There really is so much more to explore…
WHAT DO YOU DO TO BALANCE RESEARCH AND TEACHING?
Actually, I enjoy teaching and don’t consider it a burden or balancing act. I look back at the days of my medical studies with fond memories and hope to be as good a teacher as those who taught me.
IS THERE ANY TIME LEFT FOR FAMILY AND HOBBIES?
Well, a lot of exciting things have happened also on the personal side during the last couple of months. Our first child was just born four months ago, and I enjoy every minute I get to spend with my family. It’s so much fun to see him grow a little from day to day. Also, we are all very excited about getting to know Switzerland and Zurich. Look for me at the zoo or near the lake when I’m not in the lab.
Interview: Inken De Wit with Soeren Lienkamp (13.11.2018) |
| | | | Kidney - Control of Homeostasis | | is a Swiss research initiative, headquartered at University of Zurich, which brings together leading specialists in experimental and clinical nephrology and physiology from the universities of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich, and corresponding university hospitals. |
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