Thomas Dandekar

Prof. Thomas Dandekar is a Full Professor and Head of the Bioinformatics Department at the Biocenter, University of Würzburg. He has held leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Biology (2009–2011) and Vice-Dean (2021–2025). He earned his MD from the University of Munich (1979–86) and habilitation in Biochemistry from Heidelberg University (1994). His research focuses on systems biology, infectious diseases, platelet function, and computational modeling of biological systems. Notable contributions include developing tools like PROSIMAT, Jimena, and Cat-E, and pioneering work on nanocellulose chips for biomedical applications.

Research Interests: Bioinformatics methodologies, systems biology approaches to disease mechanisms, computational drug design, and the integration of big data in healthcare. His work bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical applications, particularly in oncology, immunology, and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Awards: BMC Hot 100 Scientist Award (2007), Royal Society Emerging Technology Finalist (2015)
• Editorial Roles: Scientific Reports (Nature), Frontiers in Microbiology
• Leadership: Member of NFDI, DFG Digitalization Advisory Board

His lab develops bioinformatics tools (e.g., PRO-Simat for protein network analysis) and investigates translational applications like targeted cancer therapies and novel diagnostics. Current projects include modeling thrombo-inflammation, SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, and nanocellulose-based drug delivery systems.