Prof. Dr. Christoph W. Turck
Main Focus
Research in our laboratory centers on the identification of biosignatures for psychiatric disorders and the antidepressant drug response. Sensitive, high-throughput proteomics and metabolomics platforms are used for data generation providing a rich source for in silico pathway analyses. Our ultimate goal is to complement imprecise DSM-based clinical parameters with molecular biosignatures to improve patient diagnosis, stratification and treatment.
• Discovery of affected molecular pathways in mouse models that represent defined endophenotypes characteristic for human psychiatric disorders including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.
• Drugs that target the monoaminergic (SSRI) and glutamatergic (Ketamine) systems studied in mice with the goal to delineate mechanisms relevant for the therapeutic response and novel drug targets.
• Clinical translation with the help of psychiatric patient specimens collected in our hospital.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
1983 Ph.D. (Dr.rer.nat.) Peptide Chemistry, Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Aachen, Germany
1981 Dipl. Chem., Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Aachen, Germany
1978 IAESTE Industrial Traineeship, AB Volvo, R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
1975 IAESTE Industrial Traineeship, Hellenic Aspropyrgos Refinery, Quality Control. Athens, Greece
Professional Employment
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
2002-Present Head, Proteomics and Biomarkers
2003-Present Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Munich
2004-Present Faculty, International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Life Sciences
2009-Present Faculty, Graduate Program of Systemic Neurosciences, University of Munich
2015-Present Faculty, International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry
2019-Present Adjunct Faculty, CAS-MPG Partner Institute of Computational Biology, Shanghai
University of California, San Francisco, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
1986-2002 Director, Protein Structure Laboratory
1986-1988 Instructor of Medicine
1988-1994 Assistant Professor of Medicine
1993-2002 Associate Investigator, Cardiovascular Research Institute
1994-2000 Associate Professor of Medicine
2000-2002 Professor of Medicine
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, NJ
1983-1986 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cell Biology
University of Aachen
1981-1982 Research Associate, Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Aachen, Germany
1982-1983 Research Associate, German Wool Research Institutute, University of Aachen, Germany
Professional Activities
2004-2008 BMBF National Genome Research Network, Project Committee
2005-2011 Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities, Proteomics Research Group
2007-2010 Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities, Executive Board
2007-Present fNIH Biomarkers Consortium, Neuroscience Steering Committee
2008-Present Association of Biomolecular Research Facilities, Metabolomics Research Group
2010-2015 EU Innovative Medicines Initiative, NEWMEDS, Scientific Advisory Board
2011-2012 American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Pharmaceuticals Interest Group
2011-Present International Expert Panel, National Medical Research Council, Singapore
2016-2017 Visiting Scholar, University of California, San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy
2017-2020 Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Editorial Board
2017-Present External Advisory Board, Hamartoma P01, Harvard University
2018-Present Academic Advisor, Global Distinguished Scientist Center of Nanjing University
2018-Present LMU-China Academic Network
2019-Present Visiting Scientist, CAS Kunming Institute of Zoology