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Postdoctoral researcher Julie Warin at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) received a Walter Benjamin fellowship by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for her research project “Endothelial-Epithelial interactions shaping human pancreatic ductal morphogenesis.” In the group of Anne Grapin-Botton, director at MPI-CBG, Julie will focus on the development of the human pancreas and how interactions between vascular and epithelial cells shape its development.

The Walter Benjamin Program of the DFG enables early-career postdoctoral researchers with outstanding qualifications to independently pursue their own independent research project at a location of their choice. The funding of the program, which is named after the philosopher and cultural critic Walter Benjamin (1892–1940), provides funding for up to two years.

The goal of the funded project is to understand how blood vessels influence the spatial organization and maturation of pancreatic tissue in humans. Using advanced imaging, computational analysis, and gene expression profiling, Julie hopes to identify the signals that coordinate ductal structure formation and determine how proximity to blood vessels affects cell behavior and differentiation. This research could provide fundamental insights into the development of human organs and, in the long run, enhance approaches in tissue engineering, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine, especially for diseases like diabetes and pancreatic disorders, by uncovering the principles governing the co-development of vascular and epithelial networks.

After my PhD, I wanted to challenge myself by moving into a completely different research area, and joining the Grapin-Botton lab gave me that opportunity. I’ve now been here for a year and have really enjoyed learning this new field, so I’m very happy that the Walter Benjamin Fellowship will allow me to continue this journey and develop my own research direction.
- Julie Warin