Date Time Three FAU researchers receive ERC Consolidator Grants Another success for researchers at FAU: FAU researchers receive three ERC Consolidator Grants. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krönke and Prof. Dr. Aline Bozec, both from the Chair of Internal Medicine III, and Henry Dube, Chair of Organic Chemistry I have each received one of the coveted ERC Consolidator Grants from the European Research Council (ERC). Investigating the onset of rheumatoid arthritis Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krönke, Chair of Internal Medicine at FAU (Image: FAU/Erich Malter) Principal investigator Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krönke would like to use his grant to research the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis and hopefully discover new means of treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common inflammatory autoimmune diseases in the world. It is caused by a malfunction in the body’s own immune system which leads to chronic, painful joint inflammation and joint destruction. Although there is no cure for the disease (yet), treatments are available to relieve the painful symptoms and slow progression. ‘We have to understand the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis better if we are to develop better and more innovative treatments in future,’ says Prof. Krönke. He therefore plans to use the ERC Consolidator Grant to develop and combine various new molecular analysis methods such as single cell sequencing and 3D imaging methods. The European Research Council is providing two million euros in funding for the next five years.