Richard Moriggl, Prof. Dr. Dr.
Expertise: biochemistry, metabolism research, molecular biology, functional cancer genomics, targeted therapy, transgenesis, basic and translational cancer research
Moriggl lab: Biochemistry and Metabolism Research
Research interest: Cancer Immunology, Drug Targeting Exploration
E-Mail: richa8K5BXErd.glPiFTmorigg2Rpumzl@pADd6kNlus.acThjf_w.atHOsQar
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at/moriggl/
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0918-9463
My younger self: … Discovering molecular insights in cytokine and growth factor signalling reprogram transcription and determining how the JAK-STAT3-STAT5 core cancer pathway functions. Training in transgenesis, biochemistry, functional cancer genomics and drug development studies with human cancer relevant model work helped to solve disease relevant research questions. Genetically engineered mouse models with patient-derived driver mutations and pharmacologic targeting in pre-clinical work followed earlier work. Expertise on blood or solid cancer analysis was acquired over decades….
What a PhD student can expect from me: Advice and support in the form of opportunities, guidance, feedback, frustration tolerance, trouble shooting, patience, to connect them to international expert networks, planning and hands on new scientific questions with a close association to human cancer questions, training for pharma companies or biotech among others
Me as a biomolecule: I am fascinated by the interaction of the immune system and the tumor microenvironment and how it influences cancer progression. The most fascinating molecules in my research are kinases and transcription factors and their signaling hubs. How they crosstalk between different core cancer pathways and how they interact. My favorite molecules are oncoproteins such as STAT3 and STAT5B and the question how we can target them through upstream kinase blockade(s) or direct protein-protein interaction inhibitors tailored against specific domains of them. I conclude that I still do not know sufficiently how they work in different cell types, how they interact and drive different processes in physiology, disease context or autoimmunity. Thus, there is much more to be discovered and research on them will go on, as we still study e.g. TP53 or oncogenic RAS functions. I find the interaction of STATs with the RAS-RAF-ERK and the TP53 pathway poorly investigated, but most fascinating.
