Dr. Tobias Otto

I am supervising and managing a number of Ph.D. students and research Projects focusing on the role of various signaling pathways (e.g., JNK, IL-6/gp130, cell death) during formation and Progression of chronic liver diseases (non-alcoholic and alcoholic steatohepatitis) and liver cancer. I am also responsible for personel recruitment.

I investigated the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) during cancer formation and embryonal development by developing suitable genetically engineered mouse models. These mouse models allowed me to characterize the interaction between microRNAs and cell cycle proteins and their impact on development and carcinogenesis (in the lung, pancreas and intestine) in vivo.

I investigated the role of Myc transcription factors in cancer. I discovered a novel kinase-independent role of the mitotic kinase Aurora-A in stabilizing N-Myc, which can be exploited for novel targeted therapies to treat neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer.

I investigated the mechanisms of Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease by studying the influence of Tau phosphorylation on the formation of neurofibrillary tangles.

I contributed to a project in the field of primate research.

Role of Myc transcription factors during formation of cancer (neuroblastoma and T cell lymphoma)

Influence of Tau phosphorylation on the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease