Welcome to Physiological Chemistry and Biochemistry
The institute is part of the center of preclinical medicine of the medical faculty of the University of Münster.
Physiological Chemistry is the old name for biochemistry with medical questions; many biochemical institutes at medical faculties are still designated as such. Pathobiochemistry is the study of diseases as deviations from normal biochemical processes.
Research in the institute is focused on the structure and function of the extracellular matrix and integrin receptors, and how cell-matrix interactions affect developmental processes, tissue homeostasis and pathophysiological processes such as inflammation.
In addition, intracellular sorting of proteins is studied and how this contributes to ageing.
The Institute has been home to spokespersons for the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs/ SFBs) CRC310 ‘Intra- and Intercellular Recognition Systems’, CRC492 'Extracellular Matrix; Biogenesis, Assembly and Cellular Interactions’, and the 'Cells-in-Motion’ (CiM) Cluster of Excellence EXC1003.
Institute director, Prof. Lydia Sorokin, was awarded an Advanced ERC grant in 2022 and
Prof. Seraphine Wegner is an awardee of an ERC Starting Grant.
Professor Rupert Hallmann established the Experimental Medicine Master Course.
The institute therefore has a strong history in research excellence and innovative teaching for medical students.’
ERC Proof-of-Concept Grant for “BraIN” Project
Lydia Sorokin, Director of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, has been awarded an ERC Proof-of-Concept grant (€150,000 for 18 months) for the project BraIN, which aims to improve drug delivery to the brain.
The project addresses the limitations of current blood–brain barrier (BBB) models, which often fail to predict whether drugs can reach the brain. BraIN introduces a novel human 3D model that integrates endothelial cells, pericytes, and a functional astroglial barrier within a tunable hydrogel, enabling more accurate and reliable testing.
Building on insights from the ERC Advanced Grant B3M – Breaking into the Brain: Basement membranes and the perivascular niche, the project seeks to develop a scalable, patentable platform for early-stage drug screening. The long-term goal is to reduce drug development failures and accelerate the discovery of therapies for neurological diseases.
Managing Director Prof. L. M. Sorokin
University of Münster
Waldeyerstrasse 15
D - 48149 Münster
Germany Tel +49 251 83 55581/82
Fax +49 251 83 55596
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