معرفی
Prof. Dr. Helma Wennemers serves as a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, leading the Laboratory for Organic Chemistry. Her research group operates from HCI H 313 at Vladimir Prelog Way 1-5/10 in Zurich, Switzerland, with active teaching responsibilities including Organic Chemistry I and Chemical Biology - Peptides for the Fall 2025 semester.
Her research program centers on the intersection of organic chemistry and chemical biology, with particular emphasis on collagen triple helix engineering, peptide-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis, and development of chemical tools for tissue remodeling diagnostics. Key focus areas include designing hyperstable collagen heterotrimers for fibrosis monitoring, creating fluorophore-based probes for collagen cross-linking visualization, and pioneering organocatalytic methodologies for complex heterocycle synthesis. Her group actively explores how hydrophobic modifications and proline derivatives influence collagen stability and cellular uptake mechanisms.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) collagen structural engineering for biomedical applications, (2) innovative peptide/organocatalysis enabling stereoselective transformations, and (3) chemical probe development targeting tissue remodeling processes. These works consistently integrate synthetic chemistry with biological validation, demonstrating translational potential in fibrosis diagnostics and regenerative medicine.
While specific grant details aren't provided in available sources, her research program clearly supports advanced laboratory infrastructure including peptide synthesis facilities and photochemical reaction systems like the ETHos photoreactor. Her group maintains strong industry and clinical collaborations evident in applications targeting liver cancer cells and prostate cancer diagnostics.
The Laboratory for Organic Chemistry functions as an interdisciplinary hub where synthetic organic chemists collaborate with biologists to develop collagen-based diagnostic platforms and catalytic systems. Current projects focus on lysyl oxidase-responsive probes for real-time tissue monitoring and engineered peptide catalysts for sustainable chemical synthesis under environmentally relevant conditions.
