AkadR. Dr. Antje Maria Richter
Dr. Antje Maria Richter
Institute for Genetics
Dammann Group
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58
35392 Giessen
Tel: +49 641 99-35466
Fax.: +49 641 99-35469
Human Biologist, Akademische Rätin & PI
https://www.youtube.com/@EpicAntje
As a team, we are intensively dedicated to research into the mechanisms of gene silencing in tumours.
Our focus is on understanding the processes such as DNA hypermethylation in tumours that lead to gene inactivation, and at the same time we are looking for ways to reactivate silenced gene expression. This epigenetic activation of tumour suppressor genes is an early process in carcinogenesis. In the development of novel tools for tumour therapy, we rely on a modified CRISPR-Cas9 technology for epigenetic editing.
Our focus is on creating innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness and safety of this form of therapy. At the same time, we are researching strategies for the future clinical application of epigenetic editing. Another important research area of our team concerns the development of 3R-compliant alternative cell culture techniques for cancer research. We are committed to establishing 3D cell cultures as innovative alternatives that enable animal-free methods and at the same time increase their relevance for cancer research.
News
- Feb. '26: Official launch of the GeGe4Nephro project with a kickoff meeting in Berlin (BMFTR)
- Networking at the kick-off event of the Science Year 2026 on the Medicine of the Future in Berlin
- Project pitch and 3rd place at the Animal Welfare Challenge 2025, The Vegan Culture Lab
- Project funding from Jan. 2026 through experimental spaces (FCMH) for the investigation of epi-drugs in the chicken egg model (partners THM and UMR), 'EPIC-CAM'
- Podcast episode 'Fötales Kälberserum verstehen – und warum Forschung neue Wege geht'.
- Methylome Masterclass Pipeline online as Sneak Peak
Publications
Outreach
- What is epigenetic editing (Youtube) - Video
- Teaser epigenetic - video
- How do we work in cell culture?
- How do we extract DNA?
- Vegane Zellkultur über ICAR3R
Research and Teaching Areas
- Epigenetic regulation and function of human tumour suppressors and characterisation of tumour-relevant signalling pathways
- Plant epigenetics with a focus on DNA methylation
- Development/further development of epigenetic editing technology
- 3D cell culture models in application
Teaching biology / Teaching biology / Bioinformatics at JLU
- Methylome Masterclass
- Human Biology
- Genetics
- Introduction to Biomedicine (EBM)
- Supervision of doctoral students/bachelor's/master's/examination students
Current Funding / Projects
- FCMH experimental spaces, EPIC-CAM with THM and University of Marburg, testing epigenetic agents on the chicken egg model
- Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), Improved Follow-up Care for Kidney Transplant Patients Using Epigenetics
- German Research Foundation (DFG), Epigenetics of Skin Tumours
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Application of epigenetic editing for plant resistance
- Hessen Hub, Linked Learning, Methylome Masterclass - Teaching project for bioinformaticians
Abgeschlossene Förderung / Projekte
- Forschungscampus Mittelhessen (FCMH), EPICURE
- Förderfond Nachhaltigkeit, Animal-free cell culture/vegan cell culture
