Professor Thomas Jentsch is a globally recognized authority in molecular physiology whose pioneering work has transformed our understanding of ion transport mechanisms and their role in human disease. He currently serves as Professor of Physiology and Pathology of Ion Transport at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, maintaining dual appointments as head of the Department of Physiology and Pathology of Ion Transport at both the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin-Buch. Born in Berlin in 1953, he earned dual doctoral degrees from Freie Universität Berlin, completing his doctorate in Physics at the prestigious Fritz-Haber-Institut of the Max Planck Society in 1982 followed by his medical doctorate in 1984. His distinguished career includes significant leadership roles as Professor and Director of the Institute for Molecular Neuropathobiology at ZMNH from 1993 to 2006, with additional terms as Director of ZMNH from 1995-1998 and 2001-2003.
Professor Jentsch's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the field through his discovery and characterization of chloride channels and transporters, work that was honored with a special issue of The Journal of Physiology twenty-five years after its initial publication. His seminal contributions have elucidated the molecular basis of numerous genetically determined diseases, establishing critical connections between specific ion channel mutations and clinical manifestations in conditions ranging from epilepsy to kidney disorders. The identification of these pathogenic mechanisms has provided essential insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic development across multiple medical specialties. Recognized internationally as a world-leading researcher in ion channel physiology, his work has generated foundational knowledge that continues to shape contemporary biomedical research and has been widely cited across the scientific literature.
As a founding member of the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence since 2008, Professor Jentsch has played a pivotal role in establishing collaborative neuroscience research frameworks that bridge basic science and clinical applications across Berlin's academic institutions. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with Germany's most prestigious research award, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in 1995, the international Prix Louis-Jeantet de médecine in 2000, and two European Research Council Advanced Grants, underscoring sustained excellence throughout his career. Currently serving as Deputy Director at both FMP and MDC Berlin, he continues to mentor the next generation of scientists while advancing research on the complex interplay between ion transport mechanisms and neurological disorders. His laboratory remains at the forefront of ion channel research, employing cutting-edge techniques to unravel the structural and functional properties of these critical membrane proteins. His ongoing investigations into previously uncharacterized ion channels promise to further illuminate disease mechanisms and potentially lead to novel therapeutic strategies for a range of conditions affecting multiple organ systems.
