– How did winning the Nobel Prize in 1991 for your discoveries on the function of ion channels in cells change your life and career?
Erwin Neher – It changed my life for some time, because the publicity surrounding the Nobel Prize brings a flood of requests for advice or support in various activities. One has to learn how to handle this new situation to avoid being overwhelmed. I think I managed to get back to my own research agenda after a year or two. Of course, it became easier to secure funding, but that wasn’t so important, as at the Max Planck Institute we already had sufficient institutional funding for a research group of the size I considered optimal.
– Did the focus of your research change after 1991?
E.N. – By 1991, I had already shifted my research focus from ion channels to calcium ions, which regulate secretory processes, including the release of neurotransmitters.
– How did you end up in Macau? Were your expectations regarding life and research in this city fulfilled?
E.N. – I was invited by Professor Liu Liang – director of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine – and received a lot of support to establish my research group. However, I found it quite difficult to attract young, top-tier researchers from abroad.
– What is the main mission of the laboratory you lead, and what research has been conducted since 2016?
E.N. – The mission of my laboratory is to better understand how compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine work. I am convinced that there are herbs containing a variety of substances that disrupt the signaling mechanisms of their enemies, such as herbivores and fungi. Over the last few decades, through molecular biology and biophysics, we have learned a lot about biological signals, and we have discovered that such signals are quite similar in many species, including humans. Therefore, there is a good chance that compounds found in herbs also affect signaling in the human body, and could be used as key compounds for new medicines.
– What role does international collaboration play in your research? And how can it benefit the scientific community in Macau?
E.N. – I see international collaborations as an essential necessity for cutting-edge research. Our mission is to discover the laws of nature, which are the same in Macau as they are everywhere else. It would be foolish for a scientist to distance themselves from the scientific community and ignore what can be learned by interacting with colleagues around the world.
– Recently, there has been a continuous effort to further integrate academic research into the Greater Bay Area. Does your laboratory also follow this strategy?
E.N. – I wouldn’t say my laboratory is focused on integrating academic research into the Greater Bay Area. However, the fact that I also run a laboratory in Shenzhen provides good opportunities to increase contacts between the SIAT laboratory in Shenzhen and Macau. In fact, we have already held a conference bringing together researchers from both laboratories, as well as from Hong Kong. This has led to several collaborations that are already underway.
– How does your laboratory try to nurture local young scientists and promote scientific education in Macau?
E.N.– I try to create conditions where young scientists can be very independent and follow their own ideas. In addition, I try to give advice and increase interaction between research groups through regular lab meetings, mainly via Zoom.
– Recently, the Macau Government created a program to attract professional talent in various fields, including Nobel laureates. Does this allow your laboratory to bring top scientists to Macau?
E.N. – My laboratory is indeed funded by this talent program. This certainly helps to attract top scientists to Macau. However, the initial conditions for young scientists [from abroad] are still difficult, as many of the benefits that Macau citizens enjoy are only available to newcomers after several years of residency.
– What does it mean to receive the Friendship Award? And how does this recognition influence your work and collaboration with Chinese institutions?
E.N. – Receiving the Friendship Award is a great honor. It definitely provides opportunities for more collaborations. At the age of 80, the possibilities for starting new projects are quite limited; however, the award is encouraging, both for me and for my collaborators.
