My research interest is focused on the discovery, the elucidation of the mode of action of natural and natural-based products as well as their promotion as high added-value bioactive compounds, mainly as therapeutic and anticancer agents. I obtained my BSc and MSc at the University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France) and completed my PhD at the Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer (Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) in the framework of the European RedCat Project. As Marie Curie Fellow, my research project focused on the discovery and the elucidation of the mode of action of several natural and natural-based products as anticancer drugs. After acquisition of new skills in natural products isolation and structure elucidation at the Fundacíon MEDINA (Granada, Spain), I joined the Schmidt-Dannert lab in October 2016 as Postdoctoral Research Associate. My research project aims to screen and isolate new antifungal compounds from Basidiomycota.

Plumbagin modulates leukemia cell redox status. Gaascht F., Teiten M. H., Cerella C., Dicato M., Bagrel D. and Diederich M. Molecules (2014), 19, 7, 10011-10032

Novel inhibitors of human histone deacetylases: design, synthesis and bioactivity of 3-alkenoylcoumarines. Seidel C., Schnekenburger M., Zwergel C., Gaascht F., Mai A., Dicato M., Kirsch G., Valente S. and Diederich M. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2014), 24, 16, 3797-801

Embellicines A and B: absolute configuration and NF-kappaB transcriptional inhibitory activity. Ebrahim W., Aly A. H., Wray V., Mandi A., Teiten M. H., Gaascht F., Orlikova B., Kassack M. U., Lin W., Diederich M., Kurtan T., Debbab A. and Proksch P. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2013), 56, 7, 2991-9

Anti-proliferative potential of curcumin in androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells occurs through modulation of the Wingless signaling pathway. Teiten M. H., Gaascht F., Cronauer M., Henry E., Dicato M. and Diederich M. International Journal of Oncology (2011), 38, 3, 603-11 UNBS1450

A steroid cardiac glycoside inducing apoptotic cell death in human leukemia cells. Juncker T., Cerella C., Teiten M. H., Morceau F., Schumacher M., Ghelfi J., Gaascht F., Schnekenburger M., Henry E., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Biochemical Pharmacology (2011), 81, 1, 13-23

Reviews
Coffee provides a natural multitarget pharmacopeia against the hallmarks of cancer. Gaascht F., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Genes & Nutrition (2015), 10, 6, 51

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Solander ex Ellis) contains powerful compounds that prevent and cure cancer. Gaascht F., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Frontiers in Oncology (2013), 3, 202

Anticancer bioactivity of compounds from medicinal plants used in European medieval traditions. Teiten M. H., Gaascht F., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Biochemical Pharmacology (2013), 86, 9, 1239-47

Aurones: interesting natural and synthetic compounds with emerging biological potential. Zwergel C., Gaascht F., Valente S., Diederich M., Bagrel D. and Kirsch G. Natural Product Communications (2012), 7, 3, 389-94

Targeting the wingless signaling pathway with natural compounds as chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents. Teiten M. H., Gaascht F., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2012), 13, 1, 245-54

Chemopreventive potential of curcumin in prostate cancer. Teiten M. H., Gaascht F., Eifes S., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Genes & Nutrition (2010), 5, 1, 61-74

Approche végétale dans le traitement des leucémies. Gaascht F., Teiten M. H., Schumacher M., Dicato M. and Diederich M. Correspondances en Onco-hématologie (2010), V, N°2, 102-108

Schmidt-Dannert Lab

Experts@MN

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• December 2013: PhD’s Degree in Life and Health Sciences, “Doctor Europaeus ” label, University of Lorraine (Metz, France)
• June 2009: Master’s Degree (MSc) in Molecular and Structural Biology, University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France)
• June 2007: Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louis Pasteur University (Strasbourg, France)

Background

• October 2016 – Present, Postdoctoral Research associate, BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, USA
• November 2014 – January 2015, Chemist in natural product chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Fundación MEDINA, Granada, Spain
• September 2009 – December 2013, PhD Thesis, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hospital Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• June 2011 – August 2011, Secondment taking place within the RedCat Training Network, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie Moléculaire et Biochimie Pharmacologique, Chemistry Department, University of Lorraine, Metz, France
• July 2008 – September 2009, MSc Thesis, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hospital Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Grants & Fellowships

Individual travel grant, Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), annual meeting in Porto (Portugal), February 2015, 400 euros

Individual Leonardo da Vinci Grant, TransEurope Programme, European Commission, Granada (Spain), November 2014 – January 2015, 3.000 euros

Individual travel grant, Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), association-founding meeting in Brussels (Belgium), November 2013, 200 euros

Early stage researcher fellowship, Marie Curie Action Grant, RedCat Initial Training Network (215009), 7th Framework Programme, European Commission, September 2009 – November 2012, 100.000 euros

Individual grant Lions Club Luxembourg, Action “Vaincre le Cancer” – Lions Club, September 2008 – August 2009, 18.000 euros