Thomas Braun - Curriculum Vitae#

Short CV

M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine
Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat.habil.

University education

• 1993 German "Habilitation" and PhD in Cellular Biochemistry
  
• 1987 Final examination and Approbation (= license to practice medicine)
  
• 1984-1987 Medical thesis at the Institute of Human Genetis, Univ. of Hamburg. Title: Molecular Cloning of the human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, evidence for a mitochondrial transport sequence. Rating: "summa cum laude"
  
• 1983-1987 School of Philosophy, School of Medicine, University of Hamburg, Germany
  
• 1980-1983 School of Philosophy, School of Medicine, University of Göttingen, Germany
  

Scientific career

• 2004- Director at the Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim
  
• Full Professor, Univ. of Gießen, Medical Faculty, Dept. of Internal Medicine
  
• 2000-2004 Elected Dean for Research, Medical Faculty, Univ. of Halle-Wittenberg
  
• 1998 -2000 Full Professor, Univ. of Halle-Wittenberg, Medical Faculty, Director of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry
  
• 1997-1998 Associate Professor, Univ. of Würzburg, Medical Faculty, Inst. of Medical Radiology and Cell Research
  
• 1993-1997 Staff Scientist, Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Univ. of Braunschweig
  
• 1991-1992 Visiting Scientist, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, USA
  
• 1987-1992 Postdoctoral Associate, Dept. of Toxicology, Univ. of Hamburg
  
• 1989 EMBO short term fellowship, Visiting Scientist at the MRC Cambridge, England
  
• 1989 Visiting Scientist at the Institute of Virology, Oxford, UK

Personal statement:

In 2004 I accepted an offer by the Max-Planck-Society to act as the founding director of the new Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim, which succeeded the previous MPI for Physiological and Clinical Research. Our current work spans the molecular control of heart and skeletal muscle development, stem cells and the regeneration of contractile tissues as well as aging and adaptation of the cardiovascular system. We are using a broad array of cutting edge technologies to pursue our research goals using mainly the mouse as a preclinical model system. The institute has a strong translational arm with a proven track record in innovative therapies resulting in the introduction of several new treatment regimens mostly in the field of lung disorders. Since starting my independent laboratory in 1991, I have successfully trained numerous undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs. I am also the speaker of the International Max-Planck-Research School for Heart and Lung Research, which is jointly hosted by the Max-Planck-Institute and the Universities of Giessen and Frankfurt.

During the last 5 years I have authored more than 50 publications in top international journals, coordinated several large research initiatives, and helped to shape the Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, which is now one of the most respected cardiovascular research institutions in Germany.