CRC TRR 422 PodoSigN

TRR 422 is a Collaborative Research Center funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Universities of Cologne, Münster and Hamburg. In this network, researchers are investigating the molecular control processes of structurally complex kidney cells known as podocytes. Podocytes surround the blood vessels of the renal filter and play a key role in the production of urine. If they are damaged, the kidney can no longer reliably fulfill its filtering function: Vital proteins are lost in the urine and kidney function collapses. Such damage is a major factor in the development of chronic kidney disease, which affects millions of people worldwide. Despite their central importance, little is known about the complex signaling pathways that regulate the health and function of podocytes.