Dr. Petra Knaus

Biography

Petra Knaus is a Full Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, specializing in signal transduction mechanisms. After receiving her PhD in Molecular Biology from the Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH) Heidelberg in 1991, she completed her postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT in 1996. Upon returning to Germany, she established her own lab focused on BMP receptor biology and signal transduction at the Biocenter Würzburg. In 2004, she became a Full Professor at Freie Universität Berlin, and in 2010, she was awarded a W3 Professorship in Biochemistry - Signal Transduction Regeneration at the same institution. Knaus’ research interests include understanding the molecular mechanisms of BMPs in tissue homeostasis and their role in various diseases, including cancer and pulmonary hypertension. Her goals are to unravel the common signaling mechanisms across cell types, identify unique modes of BMP receptor activation, and understand signaling specificity related to Smad and Non-Smad signaling pathways. Ultimately, she aims to transfer this knowledge towards the development of new therapeutic strategies for facilitating tissue regeneration and improving cancer treatments.

Research Interests

Experience