91影库

In Memoriam

In memoriam: Ulrich auf dem Keller

Swarnali  Roy
May 13, 2024

Ulrich auf dem Keller, a leader in wound healing research and mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology, died September 1, 2023 at the age of 49.

Ulrich auf dem Keller

Born on April 5, 1974 and raised in Mu虉lheim an der Ruhr, Germany, auf dem Keller received his undergraduate diploma in biochemistry in 2000. He then joined ETH, Zurich in the biology department under the mentorship of Pfizer Academic Award winner where he identified Nrf2 as a key player in the cellular stress response and studied Nrf-mediated gene expression in keratinocytes in the prevention of skin tumors. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2005. 

auf dem Keller moved to the Centre for Blood Research, Vancouver, Canada, in 2006 to join where he quantified changes in the proteome and analyzed the nature of protein amino termini analysis (N-terminome) using iTRAQ-TAILS technology and showed that loss of a single protease could perturb the proteolytic signaling network and enhance inflammation. 

In 2009, auf dem Keller started an independent lab in ETH, Zurich as a senior scientist and group leader.  He exploited the capability of iTRAQ-TAILS to exploring the substrate degradome of matrix metalloproteinase and translated his research to address complex proteolytic activities in healing impairments. In 2017, he moved to the section of protein science and biotherapeutics at Technical University of Denmark Bioengineering in Lyngby as a professor. He continued there until his death, exploring the quantitative proteomics approach in complex biological matrices.

auf dem Keller had more than 150 publications with 6,587 citations to date. He received a Herbert Tabor Young Investigator Award in 2011 from the 91影库 and Molecular Biology for his studies of proteolytic events in the skin. 

Colleagues remember auf dem Keller as . He was instrumental in the overall growth of his department and his students. He spoke Latin and ancient Greek, had an interest in classical music and was an outstanding viola player. 

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Enjoy reading 91影库Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Swarnali  Roy

Swarnali Roy is a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She is an 91影库Today volunteer contributor.

Related articles

2025 PROLAB awardees announced
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
Daniel N. Hebert (1962鈥2024)
Ineke Braakman, Maurizio Molinari, Reid Gilmore & Lila Gierasch

Get the latest from 91影库Today

Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Fliesler wins scientific and ethical awards
Member News

Fliesler wins scientific and ethical awards

July 21, 2025

He is being honored by the University at Buffalo and the American Oil Chemists' Society for his scientific achievements and ethical integrity.

Hope for a cure hangs on research
Essay

Hope for a cure hangs on research

July 17, 2025

Amid drastic proposed cuts to biomedical research, rare disease families like Hailey Adkisson鈥檚 fight for survival and hope. Without funding, science can鈥檛 鈥渃atch up鈥 to help the patients who need it most.

Before we鈥檝e lost what we can鈥檛 rebuild: Hope for prion disease
Feature

Before we鈥檝e lost what we can鈥檛 rebuild: Hope for prion disease

July 15, 2025

Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel, a husband-and-wife team racing to cure prion disease, helped develop ION717, an antisense oligonucleotide treatment now in clinical trials. Their mission is personal 鈥 and just getting started.

91影库members recognized as Allen investigators
Member News

91影库members recognized as Allen investigators

July 14, 2025

Ileana Cristea, Sarah Cohen, Itay Budin and Christopher Obara are among 14 researchers selected as Allen Distinguished Investigators by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

AI can be an asset, 91影库educators say
Advice

AI can be an asset, 91影库educators say

July 9, 2025

Pedagogy experts share how they use artificial intelligence to save time, increase accessibility and prepare students for a changing world.

91影库undergraduate education programs foster tomorrow鈥檚 scientific minds
Feature

91影库undergraduate education programs foster tomorrow鈥檚 scientific minds

July 8, 2025

Learn how the society empowers educators and the next generation of scientists through community as well as accreditation and professional development programs that support evidence-based teaching and inclusive pedagogy.