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Inventor Profile
Prof. Michael Bader: Not a job, but a passion
Inventor: Prof. Michael Bader, Head of Group, Molecular Biology of Peptide Hormones at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Member of the Helmholtz Association
Research: Cardiovascular hormones, such as angiotensin, bradykinin and serotonin
Potential: Potential impact on therapy development in a broad range of human diseases
Industry collaborations: Undisclosed collaborations on cardiovascular drug development
Transfer of research models
You have been working on cardiovascular hormones for more than 20 years now. What is so exciting about them?
First of all, these hormones are incredibly complex. They play important roles in regulating not only the cardiovascular system, but also the central nervous system and immune system. And we still haven’t grasped the full picture. There are many open questions regarding their detailed mechanisms of action and how they interact on a systemic level. However, each component we elucidate helps in understanding the corresponding diseases and can ultimately support the development of novel therapies.
But some of these hormones, e.g. angio-tensin or serotonin, are well-established therapeutic targets. How does that fit with such an ‘incomplete’ understanding of the way they work?
True, anti-hypertension drugs targeting the angiotensin pathway or antidepressants that alter serotonin levels are among the most widely used drugs of all. And although they have some limitations, they basically work. But that does not mean that we have fully understood what they do in the human body. If we did, we could certainly further improve today’s treatment options.
Is that a key motivation for you to continue your research in this field?
Yes – partly. It is definitely important for me to work in a field that has practical implications. But what drives me most is the very fundamental question of how ‘life works’. I’m fascinated by the complexity of life and would love to unravel some of its key biological mechanisms.
But how can you tackle such complexity in a laboratory setting?
This is indeed one of the key challenges in our field – and the reason why we work with animal models. There is no other way of investigating the systemic and multifaceted effects of hormones. And although it remains impossible to mimic the full complexity of the human body, we have succeeded in developing some very useful models that allow us to gain new insights.
Can you provide an example?
One of our most important findings is that there are two different enzymes producing serotonin, one inside and the other one outside the brain. Previously, serotonin was primarily thought to be associated with the regulation of mood and some further functions of the brain. Meanwhile, we know that the vast majority of serotonin is located outside the brain where its main functions are to regulate intestinal movement and blood clotting.
What are the practical implications?
These and further findings forced us to completely rethink our understanding of cardiovascular hormones and their roles in the human body. Over the long term, this may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies. Moreover, our animal models are not only used by researchers around the world, but also by international biopharmaceutical companies, primarily in the field of preclinical research.
What are your goals for the future?
It’s difficult to name explicit goals. We don’t know what we are going to discover tomorrow – and tomorrow’s results will guide our research thereafter. However, we will continue to explore the serotonin system and strengthen our research on bradykinin, one of the less prominent cardiovascular hormones. I believe both hormones still hold significant therapeutic potential. In terms of research tools, we are currently intensifying our efforts in stem cell research to evaluate a potential application of the technology to our projects.
What about personal goals and hobbies?
I have turned my hobby into my profession! I love my work and, apart from that, I spend my time with my family. With three children aged 12, 15 and 17, I have no need or space for further hobbies. I do research 11 to 12 hours a day, frequently work at weekends, and my bedtime reading consists of Nature and Science. For me, research is not a job, but a passion.
What is your recommendation for fellow scientists?
Well, sometimes I miss this kind of passion in my younger coworkers. It helps you survive the many disappointments and tedious lab work that are part of every scientific career. And it provides the ground from which discoveries and inventions spring that can ultimately change our lives.
Michael Bader gained his PhD in biology from Freiburg University in 1989, before moving to Prof. Ganten’s team at Heidelberg University. In 1994, he became group leader at the MDC. He is 51 years old.
