Lipids (fats) are not only important energy stores and structural elements in cell membranes; they also play a key role in the transmission of signals between cells, thus regulating elementary cellular processes. Disruption to the transmission of signals leads to diseases such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, inflammations and pain or even tumour diseases. LiFF is confident that a better under-standing of the molecular processes in lipid-dependent signalling networks will lead to new methods of identifying biomarkers for diagnostics as well as the development of new therapeutics.

LOEWE Research Cluster becomes a Collaborative Research Centre

In October 2013 LiFF was transferred to long-term funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). As the Collaborative Research Centre 1039 “Signalling by fatty acid derivatives and sphingolipids in health and disease” (Coordinator: Prof. Dr. J. Pfeilschifter), LiFF will receive EUR 8.2 million in funding until 2017.