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Giessen venom researcher meets Nobel Laureates: Dr. Tim Lüddecke has received an invitation to the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings from 25 to 30 June 2023

Dr. Tim Lüddecke is researching the potential applications of natural substances produced by snakes, spiders, and insects, some of which are still unknown.
© Désirée Schulz
Dr. Tim Lüddecke is researching the potential applications of natural substances produced by snakes, spiders, and insects, some of which are still unknown.

Dr. Tim Lüddecke, junior group leader of the "Animal Venomics" research group at the Bioresources Branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, is one of a total of 635 young scientists invited to this year's Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. This is a great honor for Lüddecke, who, among other things, is also a scientist at the Institute for Insect Biotechnology at Justus Liebig University Giessen (LOEWE-ZIB funded until 2022) and the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics - here as project area spokesperson for natural product genomics.

Lüddecke conducts research in the field of biology and biochemistry on possible forms of application of animal toxins, especially arthropods such as insects and spiders. He uses systems biology and biotechnology methods to identify and characterize previously unknown natural products. The applied aspect of his discoveries is particularly important to him, be it for plant protection, industrial goods production or biomedicine. Together with other LOEWE-TBG researchers, Lüddecke has already succeeded in isolating new biomolecules from the venoms of spiders, ants or bees with efficacy against (multi-resistant) pathogens or breast cancer. "I am very much looking forward to the professional dialogue with Nobel laureates and the lifelong networking with other young researchers in physiology and medicine within the Lindau Alumni Network," said Lüddecke. "I am very honored that the selection committee has considered my application and is inviting me to the 72nd Lindau Meeting."

The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are an event with tradition that inspires young scientists anew every year: since 1953, outstanding young researchers have met Nobel Laureates, the so-called Laureates, at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. The meetings in the small Bavarian town of Lindau on Lake Constance serve to promote intellectual exchange and rotate thematically between the Nobel Prize disciplines of physics, chemistry and - as this year - physiology/medicine. The multi-stage selection process for participation is international and highly competitive; a total of 635 young scientists were invited to exchange ideas with the Laureates. Most of the participants remain connected within the Lindau Alumni Network for the rest of their lives.