Günther Gerisch (1931-2025)
Former director Dr. Günther Gerisch of the MPI of Biochemistry passed away on June 26, 2025 at the age of 94.
The Institute is losing a scientist of the highest rank. Günther Gerisch (*02.05.1931 - †26.06.2025) was a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and Director of the Department “Cell Biology” at the MPI of Biochemistry from 1979 to 1999, after his retirement, he was head of the research group “Cell Dynamics”.
Günther Gerisch started his independent research work in 1961 as an assistant professor at the University of Freiburg with immunochemical investigations of cell surface glycoproteins of aggregating Dictyostelium discoideum cells. From 1969 to 1975, he headed a junior research group at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society in Tübingen, working on oscillatory adenylate cyclase activities in cell aggregation. From 1975 to 1979, he headed a research group at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, focusing on work on the molecular basis of cell motility and cytokinesis.
From 1979 to 1999, Günther Gerisch headed the Department of “Cell Biology” and, most recently, the Research Group
“Cell Dynamics” at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry.
He has made outstanding contributions to understanding the molecular organisation of the cytoskeleton and its importance for cell motility. He has contributed significantly to understanding fundamental processes of cell movement and cell division. His research focused primarily on the actin cytoskeleton, which is essential for the shape, stability and movement of cells. A particular focus was on the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum, a slime mould that lives as a single cell but can also form complex, multicellular structures.
Günther Gerisch published over 400 scientific papers and his research contributions significantly shaped and advanced the field of cell motility and, in particular, actin dynamics.
With Günther Gerisch, the Institute has lost a renowned and globally respected scientist. We gratefully remember him as a long-standing and highly valued colleague.
The Institute is losing a scientist of the highest rank.
Günther Gerisch was a scientific member and director at the MPI of Biochemistry and, after his retirement, a research group leader.
Günther Gerisch started his independent research work in 1961 as an assistant professor at the University of Freiburg with immunochemical investigations of cell surface glycoproteins of aggregating Dictyostelium discoideum cells. From 1969 to 1975, he headed a junior research group at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society in Tübingen, working on oscillatory adenylate cyclase activities in cell aggregation. From 1975 to 1979, he headed a research group at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, focusing on work on the molecular basis of cell motility and cytokinesis.
From 1979 to 1999, Günther Gerisch headed the Department of “Cell Biology” and, most recently, the Research Group
“Cell Dynamics” at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry.
He has made outstanding contributions to understanding the molecular organisation of the cytoskeleton and its importance for cell motility. He has contributed significantly to understanding fundamental processes of cell movement and cell division. His research focused primarily on the actin cytoskeleton, which is essential for the shape, stability and movement of cells. A particular focus was on the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum, a slime mould that lives as a single cell but can also form complex, multicellular structures.
Günther Gerisch published over 400 scientific papers and his research contributions significantly shaped and advanced the field of cell motility and, in particular, actin dynamics.
With Günther Gerisch, the Institute has lost a renowned and globally respected scientist. We gratefully remember him as a long-standing and highly valued colleague.