Favorite cytokine? That’s easy: IL-6! A couple years ago, I organized an ICIS sponsored Interleukin-6 Meeting in Kiel together with Prof. Tadamitsu Kishimoto. This meeting brought together most of the scientists interested in this important cytokine. This is just one example of the opportunities to develop important friendships and collaborations in this community.
Meet Stefan Rose-John, PhD, Professor emeritus, Biochemical Institute, University of Kiel, Germany
Where did you do your training?
I studied in Heidelberg, Germany, where I received my PhD. I went as a postdoc to Michigan and returned to Heidelberg to work at the German Cancer Research Center. Later I went to Aachen, where I received my Habilitation degree. After that I became an associate professor in Mainz. In 2000, I went to Kiel as a full professor and director of the Biochemical Institute, University of Kiel, Germany
Briefly, what is your research about?
My laboratory was focused on the molecular biology of cytokines of the gp130 family. We discovered the IL-6 trans-signaling pathway via the soluble IL-6R and we designed a protein, which specifically blocks IL-6 trans-signaling via the soluble IL-6R and does not affect classic IL-6 signaling via the membrane IL-6R. Since we believe that classic signaling is rather protective and anti-inflammatory, we see a major advantage of sgp130Fc over monoclonal antibodies such as Tocilizumab, which blocks both, classic and trans-signaling.
Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society help your career, or share any other thoughts you have about the society?
I always enjoyed the yearly meetings of the ICIS and I attended most of these in the past 25 to 30 years. Many of the colleagues I met at the meetings became collaborators and friends. A couple of years ago, I had the chance to organize an ICIS sponsored Interleukin-6 Meeting in Kiel together with Prof. Tadamitsu Kishimoto. This meeting brought together most of the scientists interested in this important cytokine.
Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came out of Cytokines meetings?
There are many friendships or collaborations over all continents, which are reflected in the manuscripts we published together.
What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
I liked very much the Puerto Rico Meeting in 2014. At this meeting together with Simon Jones from Cardiff I received the Boltzmann Award for International Collaboration in Cytokine Research.
What do you like to do when not in the lab?
I enjoy going hiking and going sailing a lot
What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
I often was told by senior scientists that what I planned as a next experimental approach and also as a next career step would not work out. I usually ignored these advises and I realized that very often there was a way to do it.
What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
I was just reading the book by Bijal P. Trivedi: ‘Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever’. This book described the science of cystic fibrosis and how scientists developed therapeutic approaches to this terrible disease.
What is your favorite cytokine?
That is easy, it is Interleukin-6