By combining different imaging methods for the analysis of cells, Flora Weber, shown here with the confocal microscope, sees information about the larger contexts and specific details.
“In imaging, I must be willing to venture into something new” When Flora Weber is looking at her samples under the microscope, the world around her fades away: A skill that the 25-year-old PhD student has learned while pursuing climbing as a hobby. Since July 1, 2021, she has been conducting research on the medication-induced death of the jaw bone in the Bioimaging research group. Before that, Weber studied biology and completed her master’s degree in the international programme »Integrated Immunology« at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. In the interview, the biologist explains why it is so important to concentrate on more than just the details in microscopy.
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Why did you come to ISAS?
What is the aim of your research?
Weber: I already got to know Prof Dr Anika Grüneboom,
Weber: I study the medication-related osteonecrosis of
who now leads a research group here at ISAS, during
the jaw (MRONJ). This is a disease during which parts of
my master’s thesis in Erlangen. There, she introduced
the jawbone die – caused, for example, by drugs for the
me to the imaging methods I use today, for example
treatment of osteoporosis. The drugs, mostly so-called
light sheet fluorescence microscopy. My thesis was
bisphosphonates, are necessary to prevent bone resorp-
about the bone structure of mice. I mainly dealt with
tion due to osteoporosis. However, we don’t know yet
bone cells, namely osteoblasts and osteoclasts. I liked
why they lead to the development of MRONJ. Cancer pa-
this field of research a lot. That’s why I came to ISAS
tients, who have a high risk of osteoporosis because of
for my doctorate. Here, I get the chance to continue
radiotherapy, also take this drug in high dosages. That’s
my research.
why they also very often suffer from MRONJ.
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
