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Valérie Hilgers receives prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant for groundbreaking neurogenetic research using fruit flies and mini-brains (Hilgers Lab)
The DBM is thrilled to announce that Valérie Hilgers, newly appointed Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, has been awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). This highly competitive grant will support Hilgers’ ambitious project to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying RNA processing in neurons and their roles in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The ERC Consolidator Grant is one of the most prestigious research awards in Europe. These grants, each worth €2 million, are awarded to exceptional early career researchers who are in the process of establishing independent research programs and show significant potential in their respective fields. In the 2024 call, only 14% of applicants were successful, highlighting the competitive nature of the award. This achievement not only underscores Dr. Hilgers’ pioneering contributions to RNA biology but also provides a strong foundation for her lab at the DBM. Her work promises to yield transformative insights into the molecular foundations of neurological health and disease, paving the way for innovative treatments.
Next year, Dr. Hilgers will join the DBM to establish her new laboratory, RNA Biology and Neurogenetics. Her research will explore how the alternative processing of RNA molecules enables the unique capabilities of neurons and contributes to brain health. Using models such as Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and human brain organoids, her work aims to decipher the processes that distinguish normal neuronal function from dysfunction.
The DBM congratulates Dr. Hilgers and looks forward to welcoming her next summer!