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Maria Leptin

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Maria Leptin
Leptin in Heidelberg, 2017
President of the European Research Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 November 2021[1]
Preceded byJean-Pierre Bourguignon (interim)[2][3]
Director of the European Molecular Biology Organization
In office
1 January 2010[4][5] – 30 October 2021
Preceded byHermann Bujard[6][7]
Succeeded byFiona Watt[8][9][10]
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)[11]
Hamburg, Germany[12]
SpouseJonathan Howard[13]
Children2[14]
Alma materBasel Institute for Immunology
Heidelberg University
University of Bonn[15][16][17]
Scientific career
FieldsDevelopmental biology
Immunology
InstitutionsEuropean Molecular Biology Organization
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
University of Cologne
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology[17]
Doctoral advisorFritz Melchers[17][18]

Maria Leptin (born 1954) is a German developmental biologist and immunologist, and the current president of the European Research Council. She was the director of the European Molecular Biology Organization from 2010 to 2021.

Education

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Leptin studied mathematics and biology at the University of Bonn and the Heidelberg University.[15] Initially planning to become a teacher, she decided to pursue a PhD in 1979 at the Basel Institute for Immunology after a practical taught by researchers from the institute.[19] She was supervised by Fritz Melchers[20] and studied B-cell activation and maturation into plasma cells as part of the immune response to infections.[21] She completed her PhD in 1983.[17]

Career

[edit]

After her PhD, in 1984, Leptin joined Michael Wilcox's group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge as a postdoctoral fellow. It is here that she became involved in developmental biology, studying the role of position-specific integrins in the embryonic development of Drosophila.[14][17][22][23] In 1988, she became a staff scientist at LMB.[17]

Leptin's years at LMB raised her interest in cell shape, early cell movement and gastrulation,[21] the last of which she began researching in 1989 during her brief stay at Patrick O'Farrell's group at the University of California, San Francisco as a guest scientist.[17][20] Afterwards she moved to the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany, leading a research group focused on gastrulation[15] until 1994 when she became a professor at the University of Cologne, Institute of Genetics, a position she is still holding.[24] She is also leading a research group at Cologne,[25] which initially continued her study on gastrulation,[26][27] but later shifted to the development of the Drosophila respiratory system.[21][28] Eventually, Leptin started using zebrafish as a model organism to study the innate immune response.[21][29]

Subsequently, she had two more experiences as a visiting professor, the first at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris in 2001 and the second as visiting scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in UK between 2004 and 2005.[15][17]

In 2009, Leptin was appointed the director of the European Molecular Biology Organization,[4] a role she took up in January 2010.[20] She also set up a research group at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, which studies the factors determining cell shape in Drosophila[30] and the in vivo imaging of innate immune response in zebrafish.[31][32]

Leptin had a stay at the University of Oxford in 2018, where she was a visiting professor of Cell and Developmental Biology.[5]

In June 2021, Leptin was appointed as the next president of the European Research Council, starting from 1 October 2021.[15][16][33][34] It was announced in September, however, that she would delay taking up the new role to 1 November.[35][36]

Other than academic appointments, Leptin was the president of the German Society for Developmental Biology from 1996 to 1997, a member of the advisory board of the German Genetics Society from 2008 to 2012, the president of the Initiative for Science in Europe from 2012 to 2017.[17] She was also a member of the board of trustees of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association from 2004 to 2009 and of the Babraham Institute between 2006 and 2009.[17] She served on the editorial board of Developmental Biology from 1996 to 2001 and Developmental Cell since 2001, as well as a co-editor of Mechanisms of Development and Gene Expression Patterns between 2002 and 2009.[17] She is currently sitting on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics,[37] of the Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore,[38] and of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology,[39] as well as on the University Council of the University of Cologne.[40] She is also one of the directors of the Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation.[41]

Honours and awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Maria LEPTIN". European Research Council. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  2. ^ "The Transformative Effect of Science". European Research Council. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  3. ^ Schiermeier, Quirin (25 October 2021). "'Politicians shouldn't meddle': new chief of Europe's major research funder shares priorities". Nature. 598 (7882): 553. Bibcode:2021Natur.598..553S. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02885-w. PMID 34697478. S2CID 239889147.
  4. ^ a b Beveridge, Suzanne (30 September 2009). "Maria Leptin appointed next Director of EMBO" (Press release). European Molecular Biology Organization. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Prof. Dr. Maria Leptin - Academic Career". University of Cologne. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ Leptin, Maria (2010). "Spreading the Spirit of EMBO". Science. 327 (5962): 126. Bibcode:2010Sci...327..126L. doi:10.1126/science.1185865. PMID 20056858. S2CID 206524961.
  7. ^ Ferry, Georgina (2014). "Hermann Bujard". EMBO in perspective: A half-century in the life sciences (PDF). Heidelberg: European Molecular Biology Organization. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-3-00-046271-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Fiona Watt appointed as EMBO Director" (Press release). European Molecular Biology Organization. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Fiona Watt appointed as EMBO Director". King's College London. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  10. ^ "EMBL Director General welcomes new EMBO Director" (Press release). European Molecular Biology Laboratory. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Curriculum Vitae Prof. Dr. Maria Leptin" (PDF). German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ Deichmann, Ute; Wenkel, Simone, eds. (2007). "Notes on the Contributors". Max Delbrück And Cologne: An Early Chapter Of German Molecular Biology. Singapore: World Scientific. pp. 289–305. ISBN 978-981-4476-02-7.
  13. ^ Aldhous, Peter (1994). "Fighting for Day Care at the Lab". Science. 263 (5152): 1475. doi:10.1126/science.263.5152.1475-a. PMID 17776520. S2CID 72263669. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Maria Leptin – the first woman scientist at the head of the renowned EMBO". Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Industry. 14 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Maria LEPTIN". European Research Council. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Maria Leptin appointed next President of the European Research Council" (Press release). European Research Council. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Maria Leptin - Curriculum Vitae". University of Cologne. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Maria Leptin welcomed as Leopoldina Member" (PDF) (Press release). European Molecular Biology Organization`. 17 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. ^ "An interview with Maria Leptin". The Node. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  20. ^ a b c "The EMBO Director". European Molecular Biology Organization. 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d Kain, Kristin H. (2010). "Embracing new ideas: an interview with Maria Leptin". Disease Models & Mechanisms. 3 (3–4): 136–137. doi:10.1242/dmm.005454. PMID 20212080. S2CID 196618574. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  22. ^ Wilcox, Michael; Leptin, Maria (1985). "Tissue-specific modulation of a set of related cell surface antigens in Drosophila". Nature. 316 (6026): 351–354. Bibcode:1985Natur.316..351W. doi:10.1038/316351a0. PMID 19288611. S2CID 4330028. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  23. ^ Leptin, Maria; Bogaert, Thierry; Lehmann, Ruth; Wilcox, Michael (1989). "The function of PS integrins during Drosophila embryogenesis". Cell. 56 (3): 401–408. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(89)90243-2. PMID 2492451. S2CID 24661684. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Maria Leptin". Academia Europaea. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Leptin lab members at the Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne". University of Cologne. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  26. ^ Barrett, Kathy; Leptin, Maria; Settleman, Jeffrey (1997). "The Rho GTPase and a putative RhoGEF mediate a signaling pathway for the cell shape changes in Drosophila gastrulation". Cell. 91 (7): 905–915. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80482-1. PMID 9428514.
  27. ^ Seher, Thomas C.; Leptin, Maria (2000). "Tribbles, a cell-cycle brake that coordinates proliferation and morphogenesis during Drosophila gastrulation". Current Biology. 10 (11): 623–629. doi:10.1016/s0960-9822(00)00502-9. PMID 10837248.
  28. ^ Baer, Magdalena M.; Bilstein, Andreas; Leptin, Maria (2007). "A clonal genetic screen for mutants causing defects in larval tracheal morphogenesis in Drosophila". Genetics. 176 (4): 2279–2291. doi:10.1534/genetics.107.074088. PMC 1950631. PMID 17603107.
  29. ^ Stein, Cornelia; Caccamo, Mario; Laird, Gavin; Leptin, Maria (2007). "Conservation and divergence of gene families encoding components of innate immune response systems in zebrafish". Genome Biology. 8 (11): R251. doi:10.1186/gb-2007-8-11-r251. PMC 2258186. PMID 18039395.
  30. ^ Rauzi, Matteo; Krzic, Uros; Saunders, Timothy E.; Krajnc, Matej; Ziherl, Primož; Hufnagel, Lars; Leptin, Maria (2015). "Embryo-scale tissue mechanics during Drosophila gastrulation movements". Nature Communications. 6: 8677. Bibcode:2015NatCo...6.8677R. doi:10.1038/ncomms9677. PMC 4846315. PMID 26497898.
  31. ^ "Leptin Group". European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  32. ^ Kuri, Paola; Ellwanger, Kornelia; Kufer, Thomas A.; Leptin, Maria; Bajoghli, Baubak (2017). "A high-sensitivity bi-directional reporter to monitor NF-κB activity in cell culture and zebrafish in real time". Journal of Cell Science. 130 (3): 648–657. doi:10.1242/jcs.196485. PMID 27980067. S2CID 9575555. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  33. ^ Bartoloni, Mia (9 July 2021). "Movers and Shakers | 9 July 2021". The Parliament Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  34. ^ Abbott, Alison (6 July 2021). "Biologist to lead Europe's premier research funder". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-01843-w. PMID 34230664. S2CID 235757852. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  35. ^ Naujokaitytė, Goda (21 September 2021). "New ERC president to take up post a month later than planned". Science|Business. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Maria LEPTIN". European Research Council. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Scientific Advisory Board". Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  38. ^ "MBI's Scientific Advisory Board". National University of Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  39. ^ "Scientific Advisory Board". Institute of Molecular Biotechnology. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  40. ^ "University Council". University of Cologne. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  41. ^ "Directors". Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  42. ^ "Maria Leptin". European Molecular Biology Organization. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  43. ^ "Korrespondierende Mitglieder anzeigen". North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Maria Leptin". German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Professor Maria Leptin FMedSci". Academy of Medical Sciences. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Maria Leptin". The Royal Society. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
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