The researchers of the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS) at the University of Freiburg are dedicated to understanding the language that determines multicellular life in humans, animals and plants. CIBSS brings together 75 research groups from six faculties of the University of Freiburg, the Freiburg University Medical Centre and the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in cooperative and interdisciplinary research projects. The Cluster of Excellence CIBSS, which has existed since 2019, submitted its full proposal for a second funding phase to the German Research Foundation (DFG) on 22 August 2024 as part of the Excellence Strategy competition of the federal and state governments.
The participating research groups integrate knowledge from across more than 10 disciplines, ranging from cell and developmental biology, genetics, biochemistry, structural biology, molecular and synthetic biology, immunology, and plant sciences to bioinformatics, ethics, and law. The new programme builds on the collaborative interdisciplinary spirit and commitment of the CIBSS research community in advancing integrative biological signalling studies. The renewal proposal now seeks to secure funding for the next 7 year, beginning on 1 January 2026.
CIBSS’s fundamental signalling research provides the basis for identifying the causes of disease, developing new treatments and opening up opportunities to make agriculture more robust and sustainable, thus providing approaches to tackling global challenges in the areas of health, agriculture and food security.
This research programme will be bolstered and complemented by extensive measures to support early career researchers, foster international research collaboration and enhance science communication.
“The proposal for a second funding phase advances our collaborative research concept and is a huge achievement for CIBSS. Building on novel findings and innovative methods, it takes our current research programme even further and we are excited about the future and the scientific breakthroughs our joint initiative brings.”
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Driever is Professor of Developmental Biology at the Institute of Biology I at the Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg.
Prof. Dr. Carola Hunte is Professor of Biochemistry/Structural Biology at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kleine-Vehn is Professor of Molecular Plant Physiology at the Institute of Biology II at the Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg.
Prof. Dr. Claudine Kraft is Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg.