Humboldt Research Professor Recognitions for the Year 2022

Prominent Spinal Cord Regeneration Researcher Joins TU Dresden's CRTD

Professor Catherina Becker, a world-renowned researcher in the field of spinal cord regeneration, has joined the Centre for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) at TU Dresden. The Humboldt Professorship, the most prestigious German scientific prize, has supported her move to the CRTD.

Based in Germany since 2008, the Humboldt Professorship aims to attract world-class scientists from abroad. Professor Becker's research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms behind successful spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish, a topic that aligns perfectly with the CRTD's mission.

The CRTD, an academic home for scientists from over 30 nations, plays a central role within the research priority area of Health Sciences, Biomedicine, and Bioengineering at TU Dresden. It is a world-leading institute in regeneration research, linking the bench to the clinic, scientists to clinicians, to pool expertise in stem cells, developmental biology, gene-editing, and regeneration towards innovative therapies for various diseases.

Since 2016, the CRTD has been part of the central scientific unit "Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering" (CMCB) of TU Dresden. Their mission is to discover the principles of cell and tissue regeneration and leverage this for recognition, treatment, and reversal of diseases.

Professor Becker's research has shown that the immune system plays an active role in spinal cord repair, and she has identified genes essential for regeneration of nerve extensions that connect nerve cells and transmit electric signals. She has made several key discoveries in her career, including characterizing neurons in the zebrafish brain that connect to motor neurons in the spinal cord.

The zebrafish spinal cord contains stem cells that replace damaged neurons after injury, according to Professor Becker's research. Her team's work has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of spinal cord injuries and could lead to new treatments for these debilitating conditions.

Professor Becker is moving to Dresden with her husband and collaborator, Dr. Thomas Becker, and they have two children. She was admitted to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) at the Technical University Dresden under the EMBO Young Investigator Programme. The awardees receive five million EUR over the period of five years to support their research.

The program is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The CRTD of TU Dresden is a hub for groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine, and with the addition of Professor Becker, it continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in this field.