22.08.2024

Tübingen Capes-Chair: thanks to Professor and Researcher Dr. Fernanda Morrone

Last semester, the University of Tübingen (UT) had the honor of hosting Prof. Dr. Fernanda Morrone, a full professor in the renowned Postgraduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).

Prof. Dr. Morrone had been invited to become the 2nd Capes Chair professor (Call 2023/2024, for Pharmacy and Pharmacology) of the joint Capes-UT-Program. The program is part of the longstanding cooperation between the national Brazilian higher education and science funding agency CAPES (from Portuguese, Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior) and the University of Tübingen. The Tübingen-Capes Chair, which changes its scientific orientation with each call for applications, is reserved for outstanding and internationally renowned Brazilian researchers who wish to spend six (6) to twelve (12) months at the UT. At UT, the program is coordinated by the Baden-Württemberg Center for Brazil and Latin America (BraLat).

From March to August 2024, Prof. Dr. Morrone has been in Tübingen investigating the effect of protein kinase inhibitor molecules on brain tumors' response to radiotherapy. Her pharmacological research focuses on developing new treatment strategies for tumors through the discovery of therapeutic targets. In Tübingen, she gained insights into the multidisciplinary approach practiced at the  iFIT (Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies), one of the university's clusters of excellence, renowned for its focus on cancer research.

Before applying for the chair, prof. Dr. Morrone had already established a successful collaboration with her colleagues in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Tübingen, namely the hosting Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery and Development (TÜCAD2), led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer. At TÜCAD2, Prof. Dr. Morrone benefitted from Dr. Laufer’s extensive expertise in drug research and development their collaboration has already led to several joint publications.

Based on Prof. Dr. Morrone's recommendation to the university council, Prof. Dr. Laufer was appointed 'Associate Foreign Professor' in the Postgraduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology at PUCRS in June 2024, extending and consolidating the collaboration and paving the way for future joint projects. As evidence of this growing partnership, during Prof. Dr. Morrone's stay at TÜCAD2, a PhD network was launched involving TÜCAD2, PUCRS, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), and two other European universities.

Among the various activities carried out by Prof. Dr. Morrone at the University of Tübingen, her lecture at the Tübingen Science Bridge (TSB) program in April 2024 should be highlighted TSB, an initiative of BraLat, features online lectures and focuses on the internationalization of science and research through scientists from various partner institutions presenting their latest research data.

Prof. Dr. Morrone also took part in the “International Day at UT” and attended the 11th edition of the German-Brazilian Symposium for Sustainable Development (“Towards a Resilient and Safe Future”).

Fernanda, it was a pleasure to welcome you here in Tübingen and exchange these experiences. On behalf of Prof. Dr. Laufer and the Pharmaceutical Institute at Tübingen University, we thank you for your contributions and experienced input to our research. Also, at BraLat, we are very grateful for your support and participation in our activities, hoping to continue the work we have begun in the near future. The connections and collaborations you made during these months were already impactful and will certainly strengthen the partnership of the University of Tübingen and Brazil. We will be always ready to have you here again!

Nos vemos em breve!