BINDER-Innovation Prize 2013 Awarded to Dr. Stephan Grill of the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany

As is tradition, the German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ) in Heidelberg has recognized outstanding research in the field of basic cell biology this year with the BINDER Innovation Prize with a 4,000 Euro endowment. Among the many scientific papers, the work from Dr. Stephan Grill of the Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS) and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBF) in Dresden, Germany stood above the rest. The scientist impressed the independent jury with his article on the interaction of mechanical and biochemical signals for the biological process of cell polarization.

Many cells in our organism have an axis and exhibit polarity. Epithelial cells know which way is up and down, and stem cells know which of the two daughter cells is the specialized cell. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, Stephan Grill demonstrated how the process of polarization occurs: a mechanical flow of cytoskeletal material transports protein complexes to one side of the cell, thus initiating polarization. With this paper, his research group has fundamentally described new types of interaction of mechanical and biochemical processes for cell development.

The prize was awarded as part of the International Joint Meeting of the German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ) and the German Society for Developmental Biology (GfE) on March 20th at the university in Heidelberg by BINDER GmbH. BINDER is there every year when it comes to supporting sustainable research. As a manufacturer of simulation chambers, BINDER is committed to contributing to the health and safety of people. By awarding the BINDER Innovation Prize, the company expresses its respect for and recognition of important scientific work.