Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Marcus Conrad
Technical University of Munich
Chair of Translational Redox Biology (Prof. Conrad)
Postal address
Ingolstädter Landstraße 1
85764 Oberschleißheim
- Phone:
- marcus.conrad@tum.de
Research
Making ferroptosis druggable in human disease
Our research is dedicated to understanding and developing tools to study ferroptosis, a pervasive, non-apoptotic form of cell death. Triggered by unregulated (phospho)lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis has been increasingly linked to a variety of human pathologies.
By utilizing cutting-edge genetic cell and mouse models alongside advanced chemical biology techniques, we aim to generate critical insights that drive drug development strategies. In addition to investigating the molecular mechanisms that govern resistance or susceptibility to ferroptosis, our work focuses on designing compounds that can either induce or inhibit ferroptosis, depending on the intended therapeutic application. Emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis resistance is a key factor in drug-tolerant persistence in cancer, while its dysregulated activation is a hallmark of (neuro)degenerative diseases.
Beyond these translational pursuits, we are deeply committed to exploring the physiological roles of ferroptosis, particularly its fundamental significance in the early stages of redox biology and its role in the origins of life.