Curriculum vitae Prof. Lutz

Beat Lutz, Ph.D.
W3 Professor for Physiological Chemistry
*1961

Since 2020	Since 2020Director of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz & Scientific Managing Director of the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) gGmbH, Mainz
Since 2011	Director of the Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Since 2004	W3 Professor for Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
2002	Habilitation in Zoology at the LMU Munich
1997-2004	Independent Group Leader of the Max-Planck-Society at the Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry (Munich)
1995-1997	Scientist at the DKFZ (Heidelberg)
1989-1995	Postdoctoral positions at ETH (Zurich), Harvard Medical School (Boston), and Baylor College of Medicine (Houston)
1985-1989	Doctorate work at the Institute for Cell Biology, ETH Zurich
1980-1985	Studies in Biochemistry at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland

Research fields

Our research focus is on lipid signaling systems (mainly on endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors) in the brain and peripheral organs. Using genetics in mice, we investigate the roles of the endocannabinoid system in anxiety, fear memory, stress coping, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, neural development, and energy metabolism. We also investigate the functional interactions of the endocannabinoid system with other signaling systems, e.g. with serotonin, noradrenalin, corticosterone, and brain derived neurotrophic factor, and with epigenetic control mechanisms.

Activities in the scientific community, honors, awards

2011	Chair of Gordon Conference “Cannabinoid Functions in the CNS”
2008 – 2014	Chairperson of DFG Research Unit FOR926 (with Prof. A. Zimmer, Bonn)
2003 – 2004	Stipend from the Hertie-Foundation (Excellence Program in Neurosciences)
2002	Organon Prize for Psychiatry
1990 - 1994	Fellowships from the Swiss National Foundation