RWTH Aachen appoints Nicole Steinmetz as international professor!

RWTH Aachen appoints Nicole Steinmetz as international professor!

On May 15, 2025, Nicole Steinmetz, a renowned scientist from California, was appointed Adjunct Professor by RWTH Aachen. This award is part of an initiative that aims to strengthen collaboration with international partner universities and research institutions. Steinmetz will work at the Chair of Molecular Biotechnology, a position intended for three to five years with possible extension. Professor Carsten Honerkamp, ​​who emphasizes the importance of this appointment, sees it as an opportunity to promote the visibility and integration of international research achievements into teaching.

Nicole Steinmetz began her scientific career at RWTH Aachen University and later received her doctorate in bionanotechnology. She leads a number of major facilities at the University of California, San Diego, including the Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering and the Center for Engineering in Cancer. Her impressive career includes over 300 published articles and more than 70 patents and patent applications. Her research focuses on innovative nanomaterials based on plant viruses that have both medical and agricultural applications.

Research priorities and applications

Steinmetz has made significant advances in targeted drug delivery, vaccine development and cancer immunotherapy. A promising approach from their research has been successfully tested in dogs with tumor diseases and is now close to clinical development. In agriculture, their nanoparticles could help to specifically protect plants from pathogens.

A talk by Steinmetz will highlight the design of plant virus-based platforms in various applications. This is supported by Professor Stefan Schillberg, who highlights the expanding partnership between RWTH Aachen and UC San Diego in the field of viral nanotechnology.

Innovative techniques in gene therapy

In parallel to Steinmetz's work, researchers in Bonn are developing innovative strategies in the field of nanomedicine. The combination of modern virology with transgenic technologies is a central goal of these studies. Lentiviral vectors in particular play a crucial role in molecular biology and gene therapy. These vectors enable the transduction of non-dividing cells, which is of great importance for therapeutic applications.

The establishment of methods for generating transgenic animals using lentiviral vectors shows how complex genetic changes can be realized. This is done by promoting the expression of transgenes during embryonic development during the transduction of preimplantation embryos. Manufacturers of such vectors are taking their first steps into the world of synthetic biology. Their precise targeting and the development of genetically modified capsids are considered crucial for future gene therapy research.

Advances in therapeutic molecular biology

Interest in lentiviral vectors is not limited to animal models; they could also expand our understanding of cell types and their diseases. Therapeutic genes must be designed so that they are delivered safely and effectively into diseased cells. Greater attention is also being paid to the use of optogenetic approaches. These methods could enable revolutionary applications such as restoring vision in patients.

In summary, it can be seen that both Nicole Steinmetz's work at RWTH Aachen University and the developments in the field of nanomedicine and gene therapy make a significant contribution to modern biomedical research. Innovative approaches attempt to expand the boundaries of medicine while simultaneously strengthening the opportunity for collaboration across national borders. Future developments in these specialist areas promise promising solutions to complex health challenges.