Jena. Martin Fischer, Staff Scientist and Head of the Cell and Molecular Biology Lab in the research group led by Steve Hoffmann at the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), has been awarded the prestigious BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Biophysics prize for 2024. Presented biennially by the Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) journal family, the award recognizes outstanding early-career scientists in biochemistry and biophysics whose innovative research has the potential to shape the future of the field.
Martin Fischer was selected from an international pool of nominees for his groundbreaking research on gene regulation by tumor suppressors and oncoproteins, with particular focus on the role of the tumor suppressor protein p53. His Mini-Review, titled “Gene regulation by the tumor suppressor p53 – The omics era”, published in the prestigious journal BBA Reviews on Cancer, was a key factor in earning him this award. The article explores how modern omics technologies have revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms by which p53 regulates gene expression, highlighting its pivotal role in controlling cell growth, survival, and the suppression of cancer.
About Dr. Martin Fischer
Martin Fischer is a biochemist specializing in genome regulation and molecular oncology. At the FLI, he leads pioneering research projects investigating the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation and cancer biology. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Medical Faculty of Friedrich Schiller University Jena. After earning dual doctoral degrees in Biology (2014) and Molecular Oncology (2015) from the University of Leipzig, Fischer conducted postdoctoral research as a Leopoldina Fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“I believe my most influential work to date concerns the role of p53 in regulating cell cycle genes,” explains Fischer. “We demonstrated that p53 itself exclusively activates genes and requires separate helper proteins to repress cell cycle genes. These findings have significantly influenced our understanding of p53 in cancer biology.”
In addition to his own research, Martin Fischer serves as a peer reviewer for more than 40 scientific journals and key funding organizations, contributing his expertise to advance cancer biology and genome research.
Background Information
- The full Mini-Review can be accessed here:
Gene regulation by the tumor suppressor p53 – The omics era - For more information on the special issue 2024 BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Biophysics, visit: Special Issue
- The official BBA page announcing the 2024 award winners: 2024 BBA Rising Stars
