An Interview with Maria Leptin

Embracing new ideas: an interview with Maria Leptin

Maria Leptin works simultaneously in the independent fields of immunology and development. She is the new director of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and runs a laboratory in Heidelberg, as well as one in Cologne. Here, she describes how she moved between fields and some of the mechanisms that she believes foster creative science.

aria Leptin is not afraid to At that time, developmental biology was accept new challenges. Her beginning to use new molecular techniques early postgraduate work such as chromosome walking, which was in immunology and her allowed researchers to clone genes with recent work uses the ze- known locations, and other tools to under- brafishM as a model organism to understand stand genetics that were just becoming es- host-pathogen interactions. During the tablished. I was interested in a number of time in between, she switched both her re- things like transcription and gene regula- search focus and the model organism that tion in general, as well as the field of she used. As a group leader at the Max Drosophila development. I ended up de-

DMM Planck Institute in Tübingen, she uncovered ciding spontaneously to join a lab working some of the pathways that regulate tissue on fly development at the MRC Laboratory differentiation and morphology during of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, Drosophila development. Recent work although I originally hadn’t applied to this from her lab shows important similarities in group. I liked the project, and it was a fun pathogen-induced response mechanisms group to work with. between zebrafish and more complex ver- My work in Cambridge led me to tebrates. Maria’s relationships with col- become interested in cell shape, early cell leagues and fellow scientists facilitate her movement and gastrulation. So, when I set tooled your laboratory to introduce ze- transitions between arenas and infuse her up my own group, that’s what I decided to brafish. How did you choose which research with fresh ideas. work on. At that time, I was at the Max model you wanted to use to approach Planck Institute in Tübingen, Germany. your scientific goals? Many scientists settle into an area early That was a very fruitful period for my re- Serendipity played a major role in my in their career and make this the focus of search, which laid the foundation for the choice to study the zebrafish. When their future work. You are very different, work I did when I got my professorship Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard carried out moving your work across fields, bringing here, in the Institute of Genetics at the her first big genetic screen in zebrafish she Disease Models & Mechanisms in new, largely unrelated projects, and University of Cologne. Our initial work here noticed that different families of fish using different model organisms. Can focused on gastrulation, but later I began reacted very differently to infections such you tell me a little bit about the path of also to look at the tracheal cells in the fly as, for instance, tuberculosis. Nobody else topics that you have covered? and the pathways that direct their branch- ever decided to figure out why and I I originally trained as an immunologist in ing morphogenesis to create the tracheal thought it was a really interesting question. cell biology. As a PhD student, I worked on respiratory system. At some point, I became The development of this area for me was the antigen receptor on the B-cell surface, a bit bored with flies, development and cell not analyzed in agonizing detail and it did asking how it was involved in triggering the shapes – maybe I had a little scientific mid- not involve soul-searching. It just seemed immune response. We developed mono- life crisis. At the same time, I happened to that there was a problem to be solved and clonal antibodies to determine how IgM hear about an interesting observation relat- nobody else was going to do it, so I thought reacts to extracellular signals to induce B- ing to disease resistance in zebrafish, so I ‘why don’t I work on it’. cell activation and maturation into plasma started looking at the zebrafish as a model cells to help fight infection. After my PhD, to understand pathogen resistance. It is From a functional standpoint, how did I decided that I wanted to do something ironic that the fly work we were doing then you re-tool your lab to make the shift else. suddenly began to take off again, and now from Drosophila to zebrafish? I have two research areas that I am really I haven’t given up Drosophila. The major- Maria Leptin is the new Director of the European excited about. ity of the lab still works with Drosophila on Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and head of issues of development. When I began the Developmental Genetics group at the Institute of Genetics at the University of Cologne Despite your significant experience using working with zebrafish, I was very familiar ([email protected], [email protected]) Drosophila as a model organism, you re- with the genetics. I had been next door to

136 dmm.biologists.org Maria Leptin A MODEL FOR LIFE

Nüsslein-Volhard’s lab when I was at the I’ve been at the University of Cologne Basel Institute for Immunology and the Max Planck Institute. There, many of my for 15 years now and the Directorship of LMB in Cambridge, which have a relatively colleagues were working with zebrafish. I EMBO seems like an interesting new chal- flat personnel structure. Their research had the opportunity to see, from close by, lenge. Why not do it? Also, I will have a lab groups are very small and they are also very how it is used as a model organism and at EMBL and I think it is a very nice re- highly funded. The monetary support keeps how the lab was set up. I might not have search environment. I’ve never had any the structure functioning and allows the begun research with zebrafish all by myself. trouble doing my research here in scientists to concentrate on their research. But, when I started the project, we had Cologne. This is a wonderful environment People don’t have to think about moving up another group here – a very strong group and I like it here. So, I wasn’t looking for a a ladder. The lack of hierarchy in an insti- working on zebrafish. I was able to learn job. But I know that EMBL is a good re- tute facilitates communication between in- from them and I could expand from their search community with a fantastic infra- dependent people who want to talk about experience, so the transition was not a structure. Many of my new colleagues their own thoughts and ideas. They are in- great achievement. It just happened to there are people that I’ve known for a long terested in, and not threatened by, what work. time. So I thought, ‘Why not go for it?’ goes on next door.

Does your work in the field of develop- What specific qualities about EMBO How can institutes without a hierarchy, ment influence or inform your infectious appeal to you? which do not often give power to scien- disease work in zebrafish? Working with fellow scientists who are tists based on seniority, keep established The two areas of my research focus devel- really good. Also the EMBO staff are great. scientists? oped independently of one another. It EMBO includes very intelligent people full I think there are times when people decide wasn’t that I saw how of good ideas. EMBO that the 12 people in their small lab aren’t something worked in EMBO is run by scientists for also plays an important enough to explore all of the ideas they have.

DMM one field and it led me scientists and extends its role in supporting mol- They may want to run their lab with 30 to think about how ecular biology in people. If that is what they want, then something might efforts throughout all of Europe, whether it’s by maybe they don’t care so much about being happen in another area. Europe. It’s good to have a organizing meetings surrounded by lots of independent people. In some respects, European forum to bring and workshops, I think there’s a place for everything. My whatever you do in one funding postdocs, or preference is a place that buzzes with lots area always informs together people that think running new programs of independent people sharing their ideas. other areas. But in im- broadly about science for junior groups. munity, I don’t see that There is a large annual If you were going to start again as a there is a direct benefit from understanding conference, The EMBO Meeting [formerly postdoc, is there a different field that you development. The projects in my lab are the ELSO (European Life Scientist would choose to go into? unrelated. Organization) meeting], that addresses sci- If I said I wanted to go back to where I entists at all career stages with many op- started 30 years ago that would be pretty If those projects do not provide you with portunities for young graduate students. stupid. I find the developments in some enough independent issues to contem- EMBO is run by scientists for scientists and fields that are not related to mine very ex- plate, soon you will also become the extends its efforts throughout all of Europe. citing, for example, the non-invasive and Disease Models & Mechanisms Director for the European Molecular It’s good to have a European forum to bring high-resolution methods for monitoring Biology Organization (EMBO) and start together people that think broadly about brain activity that allow completely new in- another research group at the European science. sights in neurobiology. And with the use of Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in molecular biological approaches, and its Heidelberg. What motivated you take on This is clearly not your first move. You importance for society, the field of ecology this new role? have the experience of working in many is having a renaissance. That is another area That’s a very good question. EMBO fosters different types of environments, in three where great things are happening. There collaboration and communication between different countries. What elements of are many exciting avenues for future scien- laboratories in Europe with a common in- your previous work places do you think tists. terest in molecular biology. I have worked facilitated research and helped to foster We are grateful to Maria Leptin for with the organization and I have been on your ability to perform good science? sharing some of her experience and ideas. EMBO committees to oversee membership One thing is very clear; the best institutes I Kristin H. Kain, Associate Reviews Editor for and publications. I’ve been a member of the know have a good, shared infrastructure. DMM, interviewed Maria Leptin. This piece Council so I know the organization. I think They also have flat hierarchies, which I was edited and condensed with approval it is a great organization with great people, believe are usually superior to organizations from the interviewee. The interview took otherwise I wouldn’t have considered it in that divide their people up into hierarchical place shortly before Dr Leptin took up her the first place. units. I have worked in two institutes, the role as Director of EMBO.

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