New DFG focus on chitin and chitosan

The DFG is establishing eight new priority programs for 2023. A total of 53 million euros will be available to them over the next 3 years. The aim of the priority programs is to investigate the scientific basis of particularly current or emerging research areas. We are therefore very excited that one of them is focused on the topic of chitin and chitosan.

Under the lead of Prof. Dr. Hans Merzendorfer from the University of Siegen, projects on the topic "CodeChi - Chitin, Chitosan and Chito-oligosaccharides and their interaction with proteins of the extracellular matrix and cellular signaling pathways" will be funded for a total of 6 years. In several individual projects, scientists there will deal with a wide variety of issues related to the bio-polymer. Their findings will help to unlock the code that determines the structure of chitin and to further investigate the immunological effects of chitin and chitosan. In addition, the chemical synthesis of chitin and chitosan is to be researched in order to make it further applicable in medicine. For this reason, different disciplines are to be brought together in the new priority program. In addition to biology and chemistry, these include immunology as well as material and plant sciences. From now on, scientists from these fields can apply to the DFG for research projects that fit the overall theme of the program.

Link to the DFG announcement: https://www.dfg.de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/pressemitteilung_nr_05/index.html

Article from the University of Siegen: https://www.uni-siegen.de/start/news/forschungsnews/971053.html