An der University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School forscht er zu gastrointestinalen Nematoden (GIN). Mit seinem Team arbeitet er auch an Heilmitteln und Impfstoffen gegen diese Parasiten, wie beispielsweise Hakenwürmer (Ancylostoma spp., Necator spp.), Spulwürmer (Ascaris spp.), Peitschenwürmer (Trichuris spp.) und Fadenwürmer (Strongyloides spp.), die häufig gerade bei Menschen in den ärmeren Regionen Afrikas unter anderem Unterernährung, Wachstumsstörungen und kognitive Defizite verursachen können. (Weitere Informationen: https://www.umassmed.edu/aroianlab/)

In Berlin intensiviert Prof. Aroian die wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit Prof. Dr. Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, der unter anderem ebenfalls an parasitischen Würmern mit zoonotischen Infektionsmerkmalen in Afrika forscht. Überschneidungspunkte gibt es etwa bei der Erforschung der Resistenzen, die diese Würmer gegen Medikamente entwickeln und bei der Erforschung entsprechender Lösungsansätze.

Begleitet wird Prof. Aroian von seiner Frau und seinen zwei Kindern, die vergangenen Sommer mit ihm für ein Jahr von Worcester (Massachusetts) nach Berlin zogen.

Im Interview mit Friederike Grasse berichtet Prof. Aroian von seiner Forschung und den Unterschieden, die er und seine Familie zwischen einem amerikanischen und deutschen Familienalltag wahrnehmen.

 

Prof. Aroian, why did you decide to spend your sabbatical with us in Berlin?

Georg is in the field of veterinary parasites world-renowned. He’s done a beautiful work, both in characterizing resistance and mechanism of action studies. We began collaborations with various people around Europe and when I was thinking about where would be a good place to put all of this together, where the facilities would be to be able to do these studies with somebody who is obviously very adapt and very knowledgeable, it was here. And it’s worked out fantastic.

What exactly are you researching and working on here?

We work on a new method of deworming, that is based on soil bacteria. It is a soil bacterium that is used all around the world to control insect pests and my laboratory has been working on understanding how this same bacterium can be used to control nematode pests. We discovered that it can do it very well. We have developed a technology to produce this, the active ingredient of the bacterium, which is a protein, to very high productivity and scale in a manner that could be recreated anywhere easily.

I am not teaching here in Berlin, but I still have to run my lab in the United States, to write grants, to write papers – so I’m busy.

You came over with your family as well, so was it easy to convince them to leave Massachusetts?

It is an adventure for them but generally very positive. It has been a challenge for my wife because her business is importing green coffee from Africa and she learned that doing business in Europe is very different than doing business in United States. This has not been easy for her to work, and it takes a lot to learn the system here. But overall I think she likes being in Berlin.

Our twins, 11 years old – were fun, because one of them didn't want to come and one of them was fine with coming. And then, once we got here, they switched. But he is becoming more comfortable being here as well now. And I think overall, they are having a very good experience.

What are the main differences between Worcester and Berlin? What did your family tell you what it was for them?

Certainly, the public transportation here is much better, so we're learning to get around the city with public transportation as opposed to getting a car and going somewhere. That is a big difference. There is also much more within reach here.

In the United States the supermarkets are much bigger, but there is much fewer of them. There is no way from where I live that I can actually walk to the supermarket. I mean, it's physically possible, but it would take me all day just to go shopping. Whereas here and almost no matter where you live, you're not far from a supermarket. Things are more convenient that way. And I can cycle to work and go by bike all around the city because there are bike paths almost everywhere.

Furthermore, the level of independence that the kids have here relative to the United States is very striking.

We find that people are very friendly, very supportive here. So, we've had in general very good experiences with our interactions with people. And it's fun learning German.

 

Thank you very much for the interview, Prof. Aroian! Good luck with your impressive and helpful research and have a good time for the whole family in Germany.