Who is ... Prof. Dr. Niels H. Gehring?
Professor Dr. Niels H. Gehring
“The Gehring lab investigates RNA biology, aiming to link basic discoveries about molecular processes to human health. Our goal is to understand how RNA contributes to normal cellular function and how its misregulation can lead to disease.”
Scientific Career
Niels H. Gehring is a full professor of genetics at the University of Cologne’s Institute of Genetics, where he leads a research group on RNA biology. He studied and conducted early research in Berlin (Freie Universität and Charité) and Heidelberg (University Hospital and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory), earning his habilitation in 2007. Since establishing his independent group in 2010, his work has focused on the molecular mechanisms of RNA processing and surveillance. In recognition of his research, he was appointed Heisenberg Professor in 2017 and promoted to full professor in 2022. He also serves as chair of the Graduate School for Biological Sciences in Cologne and is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), where his team explores the role of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in brain development and neurological disease.
Research
Professor Gehring’s research investigates how RNA-binding protein complexes control mRNA fate — from splicing and stability to translation and decay — with a particular focus on nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a key quality-control pathway that eliminates faulty transcripts and regulates gene expression. Using genome editing, CRISPR-based perturbations, and short- and long-read sequencing, his group identifies NMD substrates and mechanisms in human cells.
His work has elucidated the role of the exon-junction complex (EJC) in post-transcriptional gene regulation and shown how distinct EJC components determine specific mRNA decay routes. Recent studies have revealed how the NMD factors UPF3A and UPF3B ensure robust, fault-tolerant activation of NMD. Through these insights, Gehring’s research has fundamentally advanced understanding of RNA surveillance and its impact on cellular homeostasis.
Publications
Professor Gehring has published extensively in leading journals, notably defining how the exon-junction complex links splicing to NMD and how spliceosome dynamics shape post-transcriptional gene regulation. His group’s recent discoveries on UPF3A and UPF3B further demonstrate the precision and robustness of NMD in human cells. These influential studies, widely cited in the field, underscore his integration of classical molecular biology with modern sequencing technologies and his sustained impact on RNA biology.
Awards & Grants
Gehring’s achievements have been recognized with numerous honors and competitive DFG grants. He received the DFG Heisenberg Fellowship (2015) and was subsequently appointed Heisenberg Professor (2017). From 2015 to 2023, he co-coordinated and later led the DFG Priority Program SPP 1935, "Deciphering the mRNP Code", fostering national collaboration in RNA biology. His funded projects on EJC function, UPF1-mediated mRNA recognition, and mRNP regulation highlight both his scientific vision and leadership in collaborative research.
Future
Looking ahead, Professor Gehring aims to deepen his investigation of NMD in neurodevelopmental contexts. His current CMMC project explores how RNA surveillance affects neuronal processes and how its dysfunction contributes to neurological disease. Combining genome editing with long-read sequencing, his team seeks to map NMD targets comprehensively. Through his leadership in graduate education, he continues to mentor the next generation of scientists at the interface of molecular genetics and RNA biology.