Olaf Merkel is a lecturer on cancer therapeutics and an experienced biochemist. His main research interests are B and T-cell lymphomas.
The focus of his group are non-coding RNAs, in particular miRNA and their
impact on oncogenesis and cell survival. In particular, we are interested in the role of the oncogenic miR-155 and miR-17-92 cluster. Moreover, recently we became interested transcription factors regulating cell growh and cytokines expression like cJUN and BATF. Also how cytokine signals are then transduced to the nucleus using the JAK/STAT pathway. Kinases in this pathway are potential therpeutic targets.

techniques and infrastructure of the research group:

Western Blot, miRNA mimics, miRNA analysis
transgenic mouse models, cytokine arrays, RT-PCR,
fluorescence assisted cell sorting (FACS), cloning, CRISPR technology

(1) STAT3 regulated ARF expression suppresses prostate cancer metastasis.
Pencik J, Schlederer M, Gruber W, Unger C, Walker SM, Chalaris A, Marié IJ, Hassler MR, Javaheri T, Aksoy O, Blayney JK, Prutsch N, Skucha A, Herac M, Krämer OH, Mazal P, Grebien F, Egger G, Poli V, Mikulits W, Eferl R, Esterbauer H, Kennedy R, Fend F, Scharpf M, Braun M, Perner S, Levy DE, Malcolm T, Turner SD, Haitel A, Susani M, Moazzami A, Rose-John S, Aberger F, Merkel O, Moriggl R, Culig Z, Dolznig H, Kenner L.
Nat Commun. 2015 Jul 22;6:7736. doi: 10.1038/ncomms8736.    

(2) Oncogenic role of miR-155 in anaplastic large cell lymphoma lacking the t(2;5) translocation.
Merkel O, Hamacher F, Griessl R, Grabner L, Schiefer AI, Prutsch N, Baer C, Egger G, Schlederer M, Krenn PW, Hartmann TN, Simonitsch-Klupp I, Plass C, Staber PB, Moriggl R, Turner SD, Greil R, Kenner L.
J Pathol. 2015 Aug;236(4):445-56. doi: 10.1002/path.4539. Epub 2015 Apr 27.

(3) Actinomycin D induces p53-independent cell death and prolongs survival in high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Merkel O, Wacht N, Sifft E, Melchardt T, Hamacher F, Kocher T, Denk U, Hofbauer JP, Egle A, Scheideler M, Schlederer M, Steurer M, Kenner L, Greil R.
Leukemia. 2012 Dec;26(12):2508-16. doi: 10.1038/leu.2012.147. Epub 2012 Jun 1.

(4) PDGFR blockade is a rational and effective therapy for NPM-ALK-driven lymphomas.
Laimer D, Dolznig H, Kollmann K, Vesely PW, Schlederer M, Merkel O, Schiefer AI, Hassler MR, Heider S, Amenitsch L, Thallinger C, Staber PB, Simonitsch-Klupp I, Artaker M, Lagger S, Turner SD, Pileri S, Piccaluga PP, Valent P, Messana K, Landra I, Weichhart T, Knapp S, Shehata M, Todaro M, Sexl V, Höfler G, Piva R, Medico E, Ruggeri BA, Cheng M, Eferl R, Egger G, Penninger JM, Jaeger U, Moriggl R, Inghirami G, Kenner L.
Nat Med. 2012 Nov;18(11):1699-704. doi: 10.1038/nm.2966. Epub 2012 Oct 14.

(5) Identification of differential and functionally active miRNAs in both anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)+ and ALK- anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.
Merkel O, Hamacher F, Laimer D, Sifft E, Trajanoski Z, Scheideler M, Egger G, Hassler MR, Thallinger C, Schmatz A, Turner SD, Greil R, Kenner L.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Sep 14;107(37):16228-33. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1009719107. Epub 2010 Aug 30.