Susanne Alban

Prof. Dr. Susanne Alban leads the Kiel Pharmacognosy Group (KPG) at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, focusing on glycans and glycobiology with applications in inflammation, metastasis, and cancer. Her research bridges pharmacognosy and hemostasis, developing novel anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory agents from marine and plant sources.

• Academic Affiliation: Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel
• Key Collaborations: European Union's EFF project, pharmaceutical industry, and medical researchers

Research Interests:

• Structure-function relationships of sulfated glycans
• Antimetastatic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms
• Development of heparin alternatives with reduced bleeding risk
• Pharmaceutical quality control for sulfated polysaccharides

Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize marine biotechnology (Fucus vesiculosus, Saccharina latissima), structure-activity analysis of sulfated polysaccharides, and clinical anticoagulant challenges (e.g., 2008 heparin contamination). Keywords reveal focus on inflammation-metastasis-hemostasis interplay, fluorescence assay development, and complement/contact system modulation.

Patents & Methodologies:

• Novel heparin quality control assays (PCT/DE 2009/001215)
• Laminarin sulfate-based anti-inflammatory drugs (WO 0236132-A1)
• Fluorescence microplate assays for sulfated glycans
• Complement-inhibiting glucan sulfates

Education & Mentorship: Supervised multiple doctoral and diploma theses on sulfated glycan mechanisms, including studies by Ann-Kathrin Schoenfeld (2017) and Niels Grünewald (2009). Her habilitation (1999) at University of Regensburg established her career in carbohydrate-based drug development.

Applied Projects: Coordinated interdisciplinary research on Baltic Sea macrophytes (EFF-funded 'Riff Nienhagen'), analyzing sulfated polysaccharides from Delesseria sanguinea for pharmaceutical applications. Developed standardized extraction methods for reproducible bioactive compounds.