Brilliant head
Fabian Theis is considered a leading global pioneer in the field of data science in biomedicine. Now he has received the Leibniz Prize, the most important research award in Germany. Theis, born in 1976, has developed new methods for biomedical data analysis, especially for single-cell genomics. Recent developments in this field include methods for RNA sequencing of single cells in large pools. Theis has developed software packages based on artificial intelligence that help to gain biomedical insights from this data. This is used, for example, in cell research, in medical diagnostics and in the development of therapies. The technology currently plays a major role in investigating cellular changes after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“Professor Theis is a brilliant mind who combines mathematics and computer science with medicine,” praised TUM President Thomas Hofmann. His research serves to improve and accelerate the fight against diseases. Theis has been at the Technical University of Munich since 2009. Since 2013 he has also been director of the Institute for Computational Biology at the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Theis studied mathematics and physics and did his doctorate in biophysics at the University of Regensburg, where he also habilitated in 2008. At the same time, he received his doctorate in computer science from the University of Granada in 2003. Minister of Science Markus Blume proudly let it be known: Bavaria is ahead of the rest of Germany in terms of the number of award-winning researchers. There have been 20 Leibniz Prize winners here since 2016 alone. The scientists can use the prize money of 2.5 million euros for research purposes for up to seven years. This will probably bring Theis closer to his goal of describing the variety of cell types in the human body and simulating the effects of drugs on the computer.
sweet deed
Pediatrician Lisa Wiederer.
(Photo: Klaus Krischock/Munich Clinic)
Small, collegial gifts can make a big difference, thought the team of paediatricians at Munich Clinic Harlaching and made an advent calendar for their nursing colleagues. One of the initiators is Lisa Reiner, doctor at the children’s clinic: The nursing colleagues are particularly stressed at this time of the year. “We hope to be able to make them at least a little happy with this attention.” A surprise awaits the nursing staff on duty every day until Christmas in little bags: lots of sweets such as chocolate, bars and biscuits. According to the hospital, the colleagues were very happy about this gesture.
Weak heart
Men often live less healthily than women and therefore suffer more frequently from cardiovascular diseases. Nils Postel, specialist in internal and general medicine and infectiologist, knows this problem from his everyday work and is committed to more education. The prevention physician clearly names some of the reasons for this: 60 percent of all men are overweight. Many did not exercise enough, smoked and rarely went to check-ups. “Undetected diseases such as a lipid metabolism disorder, high blood pressure or diabetes significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke,” says Postel. On Tuesday, December 13, Postel will be speaking about new scientific findings at Munich’s Sub gay center, Müllerstrasse 14. You can also expect tips from him on what to do preventively. Postel studied medicine in Hamburg and Berlin and received further training in infectiology at the Auguste-Viktoria-Klinikum and with the doctor Hans Jäger in Munich. Since 2013 he has been recognized as an infectiologist. The event takes place as part of the men’s academy of the SUB. Lectures on men’s health are planned every second Tuesday of the month for the next few weeks. Participation is free of charge, registration is not required.
New wife
Eva-Maria Kern will be the new President of the Bundeswehr University.
(Photo: Christian Siebold/UniBw M)
Eva Maria Kern, 51, will be the new president of the Bundeswehr University in Munich. On January 1, she will replace Merith Niehuss, 68, who is retiring after 17 years. Kern, born in Salzburg, is an engineer and was appointed to the professorship for knowledge management and business process design at the Bundeswehr University in 2007. Since then she has held numerous management positions: Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Organizational Sciences, Chairwoman of the University Senate and Vice President for Research, Young Scientists and Sustainable Development. On December 19, Eva-Maria Kern received her certificate of appointment from Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht in Berlin. Predecessor Merith Niehuss will then receive her “retirement certificate”.
Instructive job
Senior religious education teacher: Tatjana Winkel.
(Photo: private)
The religious educator Tatyana Winkel, 57, will be the new head of the school department in the Munich/Upper Bavaria Evangelical Lutheran Church District and in the Munich Deanery District. Winkel will be responsible for teaching all religion teachers in the school department and will also work closely with those responsible for the ordinariate of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. She is currently a consultant for religious education teachers; she also teaches herself. In Munich, almost 40,000 schoolchildren attend Protestant religious instruction every week. For her, religious instruction is an important element for the basis of respectful interaction in society, says Winkel. She will take up her new position on March 1, 2023. Winkel succeeds Volker Lehmann, who is retiring.