Most methods in current cell biology are still based on cell culture techniques from the Fifties of the last century. Observation of large and heterogeneous cell populations does not yield in exact information, and cultivation of cells with heterologous blood sera and protein digesting enzymes are distorting important results. Furthermore, data derived from experiments with cells on artificial substrates like glass or plastic are often not conferrable to the situation of cells in a living organism. Over decades, research with these limitations seems to have become more and more exhausted, and it is now the right time to think about completely novel approaches.

Our group "Cell Assay Development" aims to develop new methods and technologies for different areas in cell biology. The focal point of interest is the manipulation and analysis of small numbers of cells or even single cell assays. Thereby, it is crucial to gain control over the exact cellular microenvironment.

In a team of biologists and biotechnologists, we are combining cell biology with high-technology applications. Through incessant expansion of our methods portfolio and the combination of different procedures, we are solving technical problems which are currently still unsurpassable handicaps. For example, the natural environment of cells can be modelled within microfluidic channels facilitating experiments which go far beyond what is possible using todays standard methods.

An example for the necessity of exactly controlled microenvironmental conditions is the manipulation of embryonic as well as adult stem cells. It is well-known that these cells are only fully functional when embedded in their physiological microenvironment ('niche'). By mimicking and diversifying the composition of this 'niche', we are expecting to observe events which otherwise occur in inaccessible parts of the body thus having been consealed for research approaches yet. There has been increasing evidence that, at least in certain cases, cancer can develop through the loss or aberation of the cellular microenvironment. Hence, a novel and better setup for the examination of initial events during tumorigenesis are expected to yield in better understanding and thus novel strategy targets for the treatment of selected cancer types.

Currently, we are participating in several collaborative projects together with academic institutions and industrial partners. Due to the variety of research areas we are able to contribute to with our methods, our young work group is permantly open to new collaborations.