On July 16–17, 2026, researchers from the new Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 1739, “Soft Tissue - Alveolar Bone Crosstalk,” gathered for the first time in Seeheim-Jugenheim for a joint kick-off meeting.
The meeting was organized by SFB Spokesperson Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. dent. Michael Wolf, his deputy, Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Joachim Jankowski, and SFB Coordinator Dr. rer. nat. Zhuojun Wu. Together with the project leaders, they discussed the goals of the first funding period for the new research network, which investigates the interactions between soft tissues and bone as well as their significance for oral and systemic diseases.
The scientific program ranged from the genetic mechanisms of tissue and bone remodeling to the systemic effects of periodontal diseases and organ diseases such as chronic kidney disease and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD). Other topics included the use of artificial intelligence in biomedical research, the establishment of the integrated graduate college, and the international context of the SFB’s research questions.
Speakers included renowned scientists from Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. The presentations provided scientific impetus for future collaboration within the consortium and underscored the international relevance of the research field.
