Arne Skerra

Prof. Dr. Arne Skerra is a Professor of Biological Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), serving in the TUM School of Life Sciences. He has been the Academic Director of the TUM Food and Agro Center for Innovation and Technology (FACIT) and spokesperson for the Department of Molecular Life Sciences since 2020. Skerra holds a doctorate from LMU Munich (1989) and completed his habilitation at the University of Frankfurt (1995). He previously held professorships at TU Darmstadt (1994–1998).

His research focuses on protein engineering and design, with emphasis on artificial binding proteins and enzymes for medical and industrial biotechnology. Key innovations include Strep-tag®, Anticalin® proteins, and PASylation® technologies. His work integrates rational and combinatorial approaches, supported by protein crystallography and biochemical methods.

Publications predominantly explore therapeutic protein scaffolds, including Anticalins for Alzheimer's disease and cancer, enzyme engineering for sustainable chemistry, and novel protein purification techniques. Recent work (2024) highlights photopharmacology and neurodegenerative disease interventions.

Awards:

• Friedrich Bergius Award (2018)
• Burghausen Chemistry Award (2011)
• Karl Heinz Beckurts Prize (2005)
• Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Medal (2004)
• Elected to German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech, 2008)

He founded Pieris Pharmaceuticals and XL-protein GmbH, and co-initiated the Cluster of Excellence 'Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science' (2006–2012). No student advising details are provided.