Erich Gulbins

Prof. Dr. Erich Gulbins is a leading academic and researcher in molecular biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, serving as the Director of the Department of Molecular Biology at the University Hospital Essen. He is affiliated with the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) and the Zentrum für Molekulare Biomedizin (ZMB), where he leads a research group focused on sphingolipid signaling in human disease.

His research spans multiple disciplines, including infectious diseases, oncology, immunology, and neuropsychiatry. He investigates the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide pathway in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, cancer, autoimmune disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis), and major depressive disorder. His work explores how modulating sphingolipid metabolism can lead to novel therapeutic strategies, including repurposing antidepressants for infection and cancer.

The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in targeting sphingolipid enzymes (ASM, ceramidase) to combat SARS-CoV-2, Alzheimer’s disease, and psychiatric comorbidities in infection. His research bridges basic science and translational medicine, with a focus on host-pathogen interactions, mitochondrial ion channels (e.g., Kv1.3), and inflammation.

He mentors junior researchers and collaborates widely, particularly with scientists like Johannes Kornhuber and Alexander Carpinteiro. His team includes PhD students and research associates actively contributing to publications in top-tier journals such as Nature Communications, Molecular Psychiatry, and Nature Medicine.

Key Research Areas:

• Regulation of sphingolipids in bacterial infections (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus)
• Role of ceramide and sphingosine in cystic fibrosis
• Sphingolipids in tumor therapy and immune modulation
• Acid sphingomyelinase in depression and antidepressant action
• Targeting mitochondrial Kv1.3 in cancer