Daniel Gerlich receives Erwin Schrödinger Award
Gerlich’s work addresses one of the most fundamental questions in biology: how cells organize and inherit their genetic material. The genetic information that dictates the form and function of any biological organism is encoded in linear DNA molecules, which can reach extraordinary lengths. For this genetic information to be properly read, duplicated and transported, the very long DNA molecules are packaged into chromosomes. Chromosomes themselves undergo dramatic reorganizations: For most of the cell cycle, chromosomes fill the cell nucleus as a decompacted mass, allowing genetic information encoded in DNA to be accessed and expressed. However, when the cell prepares to divide, each chromosome must condense into a separate compact body, such that it can be transported to cell progeny. While the morphological reorganization of chromosomes was already observed over a century ago, the molecular mechanisms that drive compaction and separation of chromosomes remained elusive.
Using an innovative combination of high-throughput microscopy, biophysics, and genomics, Daniel Gerlich and his team have uncovered key mechanisms that govern chromosome organization during cell division. One of Gerlich’s major breakthroughs was the identification of Ki-67, a protein that acts as a molecular brush to prevent chromosome clustering during mitosis.
Furthermore, his research has shed light on the formation of the cell nucleus after cell division, a crucial process enabling proper function of the genome. His discoveries on nuclear assembly mechanisms, including the role of Ki-67 deactivation and a newly identified BAF-chromatin network, have changed our understanding of how a functional nucleus forms from a set of separate chromosomes. Additionally, his pioneering DNA-labeling and sequencing techniques have revealed the intricate folding of duplicated chromosomes, opening new avenues for studying genome maintenance.
Gerlich’s research has provided insights into how large DNA molecules are spatially and mechanically controlled within cells. The Schrödinger Award recognizes these groundbreaking contributions, marking a milestone in the field of genome organization. “This recognition reflects the dedication and creativity of my team, whose collaborative efforts have allowed us to push the boundaries of what we know about genome organization“, Daniel Gerlich says. “We look forward to continuing our journey of discovery in this exciting field.”
The Erwin Schrödinger Award has been awarded annually since 1956 to scientists in Austria, honoring exceptional research in the mathematical and scientific disciplines. Daniel Gerlich is the third recipient of the Erwin Schrödinger Award at IMBA: Elly Tanaka received the Award in 2018, Jürgen Knoblich in 2012.
Daniel Gerlich is a senior research group leader at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Daniel Gerlich's distinguished career includes serving as an Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, Switzerland (2005–2012), and as a postdoctoral fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg (2002–2005). Since 2012, he has been leading a research group at IMBA, where his work explores the three-dimensional architecture of the genome, the biophysical properties of chromosomes, and the mechanisms of nuclear assembly following mitosis.
Daniel Gerlich was elected to the Academia Europaea in 2022 and has been a member of EMBO since 2017. In 2021, he was awarded the ERC Advanced Investigator Grant, among several other high-profile research grants.
The Erwin Schrödinger Award is presented annually by the Austrian Academy of Sciences for outstanding scientific merits in the mathematical and scientific disciplines. The Award honors a lifetime achievement or equivalent that has had a lasting impact in its field. Eligible scholars must reside and work in Austria and cannot be full members of the Academy. The prize includes a stipend of currently € 15,000. It was established in 1958 and was first awarded to Austrian physicist and Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger. https://stipendien.oeaw.ac.at/en/preise/naturwissenschaften/erwin-schroedinger-award/