Shirley Knauer

Prof. Shirley Knauer is a Full Professor of Molecular Biology II at the University of Duisburg-Essen, affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and the Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB). She leads Project B5 in the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1093, focusing on dissection and modulation of (patho)biological Survivin functions using supramolecular ligands. Her research integrates molecular biology, nanotechnology, and cancer biology to explore protein interactions, drug delivery mechanisms, and cellular homeostasis.

Prof. Knauer holds a Ph.D. from the University of Frankfurt (2005) and a Habilitation in Molecular Medicine from the University of Mainz (2008). Her career includes postdoctoral roles at the University Medical School Mainz and the Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute of Biomedical Research. She has published extensively on topics such as Survivin’s role in cancer resistance, nanomaterial-biomolecule interactions, and targeted gene delivery systems.

Her research interests center on protein-protein interactions, nanomedicine applications, and the development of supramolecular tools for biomedical diagnostics and therapy. Key projects include studying Survivin’s nuclear export mechanisms, optimizing nanoparticle-based drug carriers, and investigating the impact of biomolecule coronas on nanoparticle efficacy.

Publications highlight advancements in functional ligand design, nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms, and the interplay between cellular proteins and engineered materials. Her work bridges fundamental molecular biology with translational nanotechnology, addressing challenges in cancer therapy and drug delivery.