The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) has approved the establishment of new Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) to further support top-level research at German universities. One of them is the CRC/Transregio “Emergence of Life: Exploring Mechanisms with Cross-Disciplinary Experiments”.

The evolution of life on earth: This question will be examined by TRR 235 “Emergence of life: Exploring mechanisms with cross-disciplinary experiments” in a comprehensive approach, connecting the disciplines of astronomy, earth sciences, physics, chemistry and biology. The participating scientists will analyze central aspects of molecular evolution by means of laboratory experiments and aim to understand how living matter develops from non-living matter. The long-term goal is to reproduce primitive living systems in the laboratory under conditions that could have existed on the young earth. The scientists around Professor Dieter Braun, LMU physicist and speaker of the new TRR, expect their research to contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of life and with it to expand our understanding of life - on Earth and on other planets.

The new Transregio joins groups from LMU, TUM, MPI of Biochemistry, MPI of Extraterrestrial Physics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Deutsches Museum, University of Stuttgart and University of Heidelberg, thereof 40% CeNS members.

Collaborative Research Centres enable researchers to pursue innovative, complex and long-term research projects, thereby supporting the further development of core areas and structures at the applicant universities. Today’s decision brings the number of Collaborative Research Centres funded through the programme since its inception in 1968 to over 1,000, a milestone that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the programme this year.

Source: DFG and LMU Press release