Coming soon
Basics and Trends Workshop | February 24-25, 2026
Guest Lecture: Dr. Anne Bernhardt | March 5, 2026 | 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Click for more information
Research Training Group SYLOBIO is searching for second cohort doctoral researchers
For the second cohort of the RTG 2901 SYLOBIO doctoral program, we are looking for highly qualified master's graduates with degrees in biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, life sciences, or equivalent fields. These young researchers will work alongside and collaborate with doctoral researchers from the first cohort to become familiar with a doctoral thesis topic.
Rostock University Medical Center is advertising seven doctoral positions, and Greifswald University Medical Center is advertising two. The second cohort will begin work in July 2026. Please check the different application deadlines.
RTG SYLOBIO mini-symposium at the International Conference on Biomedical Technology ICBT
On 17 and 18 November, Professor Niels Grabow (subproject R02) and Professor Rainer Bader (subproject E01) of the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO will be hosting a mini-symposium at the 6th International Conference on Biomedical Technology (ICBT) in Hanover. The name and topic of our Research Training Group provide the framework for the mini-symposium: 'Systemic and local reactions in case of incompatibility with biomaterials for joint and skin lesions'.
The event will bring together RTG SYLOBIO researchers and other experts in the field. The aim is to foster knowledge sharing and innovative research approaches in the characterisation of systemic and local inflammatory reactions, as well as in the engineering of biocompatible materials.
We are delighted to host this mini-symposium and look forward to exchanging ideas with our colleagues.
RTG SYLOBIO at University Rostock's Science@Sail 2025
From August 7 to 10, 2025, the 34th HanseSail took place in Rostock, an annual meeting of traditional sailing ships with up to half a million visitors.
The Science@Sail Campus of the University of Rostock offered visitors the opportunity to discover the world of research and science through a wide-ranging programme with hands-on activities.
With the help of scientists from subproject R02, we had the opportunity to publicly represent the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO.
Visitors were particularly interested in how endoprosthetic implants work and the effects of their malfunction. The impact on the body and health generated particular interest.
We would like to thank the organizers of this event and the RTG SYLOBIO representatives.
Pioneer of systems biology Eberhard Voit visits RTG SYLOBIO
On June 23, 2025, we welcomed Prof. Dr. Eberhard Voit from the University of Texas at Dallas as a guest lecturer. He has been a leading scientist in the development and application of Biochemical Systems Theory (BST) for forty years.
Professor Voit provided participants of our RTG 2901 SYLOBIO Lecture Series, both on-site and online, with an overview of the role of modeling in individualized medicine. During his presentation, he discussed the state of the art in the emerging application of biomedical systems thinking to personalized medicine and predictive health. He also outlined the challenges that must be overcome for success. "These challenges are primarily due to the innate complexity of the human body and its many subsystems, which is caused by simultaneous molecular and physiological operation at different levels, the involvement of uncounted components and interactions, the nonlinearity of most processes, and numerous phenomena involving thresholds that are not directly measurable and differ within the human population", Professor Voit explained.
His expert support is greatly appreciated as we work to address these challenges in the modeling of inflammatory processes to characterize biomaterial interactions in subproject Q2.
First retreat of RTG SYLOBIO
The first retreat of the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO took place on May 27 and 28, 2025 in Güstrow.
Our doctoral candidates and postdoc had the opportunity to present their results to date to the entire SYLOBIO consortium and put them up for discussion. The thirteen presentations were divided into four sessions, each moderated by a different project leader. The participating cooperation partners, scientific staff from the respective working groups and project leaders contributed their expertise to the discussions and thus initiated the further development of the research programs. This resulted in new areas of interdisciplinary cooperation.
In addition, the project leaders and doctoral candidates met to further develop the organization of the Research Training Group.
An evening hike in the Wildpark MV provided an opportunity for further networking and an active break in the midst of the busy conference program.
We would like to thank all attendees for their dedicated participation, especially the doctoral candidates. They worked intensively on their presentations and certainly had to overcome their nervousness.
RTG SYLOBIO at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society Conference TERMIS
From May 20 to 23, 2025, members of the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine community gathered in Freiburg, Germany, for the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) Conference. Attendees came from universities, research and development groups, and commercial organizations worldwide.
Through over 850 presentations and more than 400 posters, the 1,200 participants learned about and exchanged information on the latest developments in biomaterials, bioprinting, gene therapy, inflammation, tissue engineering, and many other topics.
Members of the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO also participated in the conference. Prof. Dr. Rainer Bader, the speaker, chaired the Bone Models & Mechanisms session. Dr. Annett Klinder and Dr. Marie-Luise Sellin presented their latest research on the effects of abrasion products on immune and bone cells to interested colleagues.
RTG SYLOBIO at the European Symposium on Biomaterials and Related Areas BioMAT
The 8th BioMAT was held in Weimar on May 14 and 15, 2025. Organized by the German Society for Materials Science (DGM), this interdisciplinary conference brought together materials science and biology researchers to explore current biomaterials trends. The program featured a variety of presentations on the interactions between materials and biological systems, ranging from basic research to clinical applications.
"As a doctoral candidate, I really appreciated the chance to talk to other early-career researchers and get new input and perspectives on related topics", said Marie Heilen. Heilen presented a poster titled "Effects of Metal Implant Corrosion Products on Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes" as a member of the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO subproject I02. Her work highlights the potential risks that corrosion particles from metallic implants pose to the health of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.
RTG SYLOBIO at the European Phagocyte Workshop
The European Phagocyte Workshop 2025 was held in Madrid from March 26 to 28, 2025.
At this year's meeting, scientists were able to gain new insights into the biology, function, and development of macrophages and neutrophils in a comprehensive program at the "Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares". The workshop provided an opportunity for young scientists to present their research to an international audience.
"The conference was a valuable networking opportunity to exchange ideas with international scientists," concluded Marie-Luise Sellin. As part of the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO, she presented a poster on the uptake of cobalt-chromium particles by human osteoblasts and the intracellular effects of the particles.
RTG SYLOBIO lecture by Prof. Dr. Mihaela R. Cimpan
On March 27th, Prof. Dr. Mihaela Roxana Cimpan from the Department of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Bergen contributed to our SYLOBIO lecture series.
Under the title "Towards safer and sustainable-by-design nanomaterials: New Approach methodologies" she gave an exciting and comprehensive insight into the research projects of her laboratory.
We would like to thank Professor Cimpan for her time and support. We look forward to working together in the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO .
RTG SYLOBIO at the ADF Winter School and Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung" (ADF) took place from March 12th to 15th in Berlin.
Under the title "In Vitro Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver-Containing Nanofiber Wound Dressings" our doctoral candidate Wieland Milz (subproject R01) participated in one of the poster sessions of this year's meeting.
He also presented his work to the participants of the 13th ADF Winter School 2025 at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (UFS) at 2650 meters below the summit of the Zugspitze.
Introducing Research Training Group SYLOBIO
On 28th November 2024, the SYLOBIO consortium celebrated its kick-off event with guests from the University Medical Centers of Rostock and Greifswald as well as the Universities of Rostock and Greifswald. In addition to the greetings of the Rector of the University of Rostock, Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Prommer, and the Dean of the Rostock University Medical Center, Prof. Dr. Bernd Krause, we were especially pleased with the keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Stefan Rose-John on the topic "The complex biology of interleukin-6: therapeutic concepts".
Our doctoral candidates presented their PhD projects to the audience in rapid-fire talks. For many of them it was the first time they had presented to such a large audience and they did a great job.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to those responsible for the premises and press relations at the University of Rostock (Link to the press release), the Public Relations and Marketing Office of the Rostock University Medical Center and all the speakers.
We would also like to thank Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR 1 Radio MV, NDR Info), a German public radio and television broadcaster, for the programme contribution to our kick-off event.
RTG SYLOBIO at the Science Camp of the University of Rostock
At the University of Rostock's Science Camp, scientists from different disciplines, joint projects and affiliated institutes will present their research topic on the basis of a self-designed scientific poster. The interdisciplinary event aims to establish new contacts and promote networking. In addition, external participants can get an impression of the research landscape at and around the University of Rostock. The event took place on 5 November.
Our doctoral candidates presented the Research Training Group 2901 SYLOBIO with five posters.
RTG SYLOBIO at Science@Sail during Hanse Sail in Rostock
From the 8th to the 11th of August 2024 we had the opportunity to present our project-specific preliminary work of the research training group to the interested public at the Hanse Sail.
The Hanse Sail is an annual meeting of traditional sailing ships with up to half a million visitors. The Science@Sail format at the University of Rostock brings visitors closer to the world of science and research with a colourful programme.
Our thanks go to the organisers of this event and to the representatives of SYLOBIO.
RTG SYLOBIO at the International Symposium Interface Biology of Implants IBI
From the 5th of June until the 7th of June 2024 we had the opportunity to present our project-specific preliminary work of the Research Training Group SYLOBIO 2901 to an international audience. The 7th International Symposium Interface Biology of Implants (IBI) took place in Rostock, Warnemünde, Germany.
This symposium brings together scientists from different disciplines to drive innovation in the study of cell behaviour and tissue development through biomaterials.
We are looking forward to the next IBI Symposium, where our doctoral candidates will present their results to the research community.
RTG SYLOBIO at the annual Nationale Branchenkonferenz Gesundheitswirtschaft
On 30th and 31st of May Dr. Anika Jonitz-Heincke and Dr. Lars Böckmann and presented our research training group to an interested audience at the 19th Nationale Branchenkonferenz Gesundheitswirtschaft (National Conference on Health Economics) in Rostock, Germany.
This conference brings together 600 participants to discuss the major challenges under the motto "#Health2024: Resilient. Sustainable".
This year, participants also gained an interesting insight into the health system of this year's partner country, Lithuania, which was represented by a delegation.
