Research in Marburg receives top-level funding from the federal state of Hesse
New LOEWE focus for innovative research approaches in microbiology
In the most recent funding cycle of the Hessian research funding programme LOEWE, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Philipps University of Marburg have once again been successful. They have secured a new focus area in the field of microbiology, which will be led from Marburg.
As part of the new LOEWE priority "Robust chloroplasts for natural and synthetic carbon fixation", RobuCop for short, new solutions for a sustainable future are being researched under the scientific coordination of Prof. Felix Willmund. The conversion and reduction of climate-damaging carbon dioxide will be achieved through research into natural mechanisms. Artificial photosynthesis will set new milestones for a more sustainable food and energy supply. The public funding for the research project amounts to more than 4.4 million euros for a period of four years (2025-2028). From the Max Planck Institute, Prof Dr Tobias Erb, Dr Katharina Höfer and Dr Daniel Schindler (MaxGENESYS) take part in the project.
Based on the knowledge of natural principles, the team plans to synthetically optimize enzymes and integrate entire metabolic pathways into microalgae and plant cells to ensure a more robust and efficient conversion of carbon dioxide. Chloroplasts act as molecular factories in the process of photosynthesis, which involves the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. At the same time, they are sensitive to environmental stress, which means that plants are directly affected by climate change. Consequences include reduced agricultural and forestry yields.
This is where RobuCop comes in: it is investigating the molecular mechanisms by which chloroplasts respond to changes in the environment and is establishing new methods for the implementation of a sustainable carbon cycle in chloroplasts by means of synthetic biology. RobuCop uses new and innovative laboratory techniques in the field of automation and robotics, which will enable the industrial application of the research results. The multidisciplinary RobuCop research project brings together experts in microbiology, chemistry and plant sciences. This is made possible by the excellent cooperation between the University of Marburg and the neighbouring Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in the specially tailored research infrastructure of the Centre for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO).
Felix Willmund, the spokesperson of the RobuCop consortium, is a renowned specialist in molecular plant sciences and contributes to the further development of the Philipps University's profile-forming research focus "Microbiology, Biodiversity, Climate". He will also contribute his expertise to the proposed Cluster of Excellence "Microbes for Climate" (M4C), which complements RobuCop. "RobuCop is a great example of scientific teamwork. Together, we can now take chloroplast biotechnology to the next level”, says Felix Willmund.
