Patrick Cramer

Cramer studied chemistry at the Universities of Stuttgart and Heidelberg (Germany) from 1989 until 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/16827786/cramer-cv-02nov2018.pdf|title=Website of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, CV}} He completed a part of his studies as ERASMUS scholar at the University of Bristol in the UK. As a research student he also worked in the lab of Sir Alan Fersht in Cambridge, UK at the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology (LMB) site. In 1995 until 1998 he worked as a PhD student in laboratory of Christoph W. Müller at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France. He obtained his PhD in natural sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) from the University of Heidelberg in 1998.

From 1999 until 2001 Cramer worked as postdoctoral researcher and fellow of the German Research Foundation (DFG) in the laboratory of the later Nobel Prize laureate Roger D. Kornberg at Stanford University, USA.{{Cite web|url=http://kornberg.stanford.edu/lab-members.html|title=Website of the Kornberg Laboratory: List of current and past lab members|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}

In 2001, Cramer returned to Germany, where he obtained a tenure-track professorship for biochemistry at the Gene Center of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) where he was later, in 2004, appointed full professor of biochemistry. Patrick Cramer headed the LMU Gene Center for 10 years,{{Cite web|url=http://www.genzentrum.lmu.de/history/|title=History of the Gene Center of the University of Munich LMU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301224302/http://www.genzentrum.lmu.de/history|archive-date=1 March 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=23 May 2017}} from 2004 until 2013. He also served as Dean of the School of Chemistry and Pharmacy from 2007 to 2009, and as Director of the Department of Biochemistry from 2010 to 2013. Cramer also was a member of the University Research Board from 2007 to 2013 and speaker of the research network grant SFB464 of the German Research Council (DFG).

In 2014, Cramer was appointed Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/13508085/pr_1401|title=Press release by the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry: Patrick Cramer appointed Director|last=|first=|date=2 January 2014|website=Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry|access-date=23 May 2017}}

Since 22 June 2023, Cramer has been serving as president of the Max Planck Society.{{Cite web |title=Patrick Cramer wird ab Juni 2023 neuer Präsident der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft |url=https://www.mpg.de/18840892/patrick-cramer-nachfolger-praesidentenamt-max-planck-gesellschaft |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=www.mpg.de |language=de}}

Cramer conducts basic research as the head of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen. He also works as a science manager and an honorary professor at the University of Göttingen. During his postdoctoral research with Roger Kornberg, Cramer determined the atomic, three-dimensional structure of RNA polymerase II, one of the biggest enzymes in the cell nucleus. This work played a decisive role when the Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to Roger Kornberg in 2006 for studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2006/advanced-chemistryprize2006.pdf|title=Advanced information on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2006|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}

Cramer's laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms and systemic principles of gene transcription in eukaryotic cells. The laboratory uses integrated structural biology methods, including X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and biochemical tools. The Cramer laboratory also uses functional genomics and computational biology approaches to study the principles of transcription in living cells.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/cramer|title=Website of the Cramer Laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}

Cramer's group created the first molecular movie of transcription initiation and elongation.{{Cite journal|last1=Cheung|first1=AC|last2=Cramer|first2=Patrick|title=A Movie of RNA polymerase II Transcription|journal=Cell|volume=149|issue=7|pages=1431–1437|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.006|pmid=22726432|year=2012|doi-access=free|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0015-3E91-7|hdl-access=free}} Moreover, Patrick Cramer developed methods to analyze fundamental aspects of RNA metabolism in cells by integrating aspects of both molecular and systems biology. His long-term goal is to understand the expression and the regulation of the genome. The laboratory thus pioneers an approach that combines structural and genome-wide methods and may be referred to as molecular systems biology.

In April 2020, Cramer's team at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry created the first "3D structure of the corona polymerase"{{Cite web|url=https://www.technologynetworks.com/immunology/news/max-planck-researchers-solve-structure-of-sars-cov-2-viral-copy-machine-334039|title=Researchers Solve Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Copy Machine|website=from Technology Networks|language=en|access-date=29 April 2020}} for the COVID-19 virus. Their model will allow researchers "to investigate how antiviral drugs such as remdesivir – which blocks the polymerase – work, and to search for new inhibitory substances."

Cramer also commits himself to the further development of life sciences in Germany and Europe. He was one of the founders of the national cluster of excellence "Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM)" and initiated the construction of the new research building, the "Munich Research Center for Molecular Biosystems (BioSysM)".

In addition, Cramer was one of the members of the scientific and technical advisory board of the Bavarian state government and worked on bioethics within the institute TTN.

• Wacker Chemie, Member of the Supervisory Board (since 2023)[https://reports.wacker.com/2023/annual-report/for-our-shareholders/report-of-the-supervisory-board.html 2023 Annual Report] Wacker Chemie.

• Robert Koch Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees[https://www.robert-koch-stiftung.de/en/about-the-foundation/board-of-trustees Board of Trustees] Robert Koch Foundation.
• Bayer Foundation, Chair of the Board of Trustees (2020–2022)[https://www.bayer-foundation.com/de/wir-begruessen-edith-heard-unserem-wissenschaftlichen-kuratorium Wir begrüßen Edith Heard in unserem wissenschaftlichen Kuratorium] Bayer Foundation.
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Chair of the Council (2016–2019){{Cite web|url=https://www.embl.de/aboutus/general_information/leadership/council/|title=Website of the EMBL Council|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• Cell, Member of the Editorial Board (2016–2022){{Cite web | url=https://www.cell.com/cell/editorial-board | title=Editorial Board: Cell}}

• {{Cite journal|last1=Schwalb|first1=Björn|last2=Michel|first2=Margaux|last3=Zacher|first3=Benedikt|last4=Frühauf|first4=Katja|last5=Demel|first5=Carina|last6=Tresch|first6=Achim|last7=Gagneur|first7=Julien|last8=Cramer|first8=Patrick|date=3 June 2016|title=TT-seq maps the human transient transcriptome|journal=Science|language=en|volume=352|issue=6290|pages=1225–1228|doi=10.1126/science.aad9841|issn=0036-8075|pmid=27257258|bibcode=2016Sci...352.1225S|s2cid=8549873}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Plaschka|first1=C.|last2=Hantsche|first2=M.|last3=Dienemann|first3=C.|last4=Burzinski|first4=C.|last5=Plitzko|first5=J.|last6=Cramer|first6=P.|title=Transcription initiation complex structures elucidate DNA opening|journal=Nature|volume=533|issue=7603|pages=353–358|doi=10.1038/nature17990|pmid=27193681|year=2016|bibcode=2016Natur.533..353P|s2cid=4465762}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Bernecky|first1=Carrie|last2=Herzog|first2=Franz|last3=Baumeister|first3=Wolfgang|last4=Plitzko|first4=Jürgen M.|last5=Cramer|first5=Patrick|title=Structure of transcribing mammalian RNA polymerase II|journal=Nature|volume=529|issue=7587|pages=551–554|doi=10.1038/nature16482|pmid=26789250|year=2016|bibcode=2016Natur.529..551B|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0029-7D45-3|s2cid=4404463|hdl-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Plaschka|first1=C.|last2=Larivière|first2=L.|last3=Wenzeck|first3=L.|last4=Seizl|first4=M.|last5=Hemann|first5=M.|last6=Tegunov|first6=D.|last7=Petrotchenko|first7=E. V.|last8=Borchers|first8=C. H.|last9=Baumeister|first9=W.|title=Architecture of the RNA polymerase II–Mediator core initiation complex|journal=Nature|volume=518|issue=7539|pages=376–380|doi=10.1038/nature14229|pmid=25652824|year=2015|bibcode=2015Natur.518..376P|s2cid=4450934|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0024-CED0-5|url=https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/2924 |hdl-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Schulz|first1=Daniel|last2=Schwalb|first2=Bjoern|last3=Kiesel|first3=Anja|last4=Baejen|first4=Carlo|last5=Torkler|first5=Phillipp|last6=Gagneur|first6=Julien|last7=Soeding|first7=Johannes|last8=Cramer|first8=Patrick|date=21 November 2013|title=Transcriptome surveillance by selective termination of noncoding RNA synthesis|journal=Cell|volume=155|issue=5|pages=1075–1087|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2013.10.024|issn=1097-4172|pmid=24210918|doi-access=free|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0015-39ED-1|hdl-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Kostrewa|first1=Dirk|last2=Zeller|first2=Mirijam E.|last3=Armache|first3=Karim-Jean|last4=Seizl|first4=Martin|last5=Leike|first5=Kristin|last6=Thomm|first6=Michael|last7=Cramer|first7=Patrick|title=RNA polymerase II–TFIIB structure and mechanism of transcription initiation|journal=Nature|volume=462|issue=7271|pages=323–330|doi=10.1038/nature08548|pmid=19820686|year=2009|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0015-8570-1|bibcode=2009Natur.462..323K|s2cid=205218821|hdl-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Bushnell|first1=David A.|last2=Cramer|first2=Patrick|last3=Kornberg|first3=Roger D.|date=5 February 2002|title=Structural basis of transcription: α-Amanitin–RNA polymerase II cocrystal at 2.8 Å resolution|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=99|issue=3|pages=1218–1222|doi=10.1073/pnas.251664698|issn=0027-8424|pmc=122170|pmid=11805306|bibcode=2002PNAS...99.1218B|doi-access=free}}
• {{Cite journal|last1=Cramer|first1=P.|last2=Bushnell|first2=D. A.|last3=Fu|first3=J.|last4=Gnatt|first4=A. L.|last5=Maier-Davis|first5=B.|last6=Thompson|first6=N. E.|last7=Burgess|first7=R. R.|last8=Edwards|first8=A. M.|last9=David|first9=P. R.|date=28 April 2000|title=Architecture of RNA polymerase II and implications for the transcription mechanism|journal=Science|volume=288|issue=5466|pages=640–649|issn=0036-8075|pmid=10784442|doi=10.1126/science.288.5466.640|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0015-872F-3|bibcode=2000Sci...288..640C|hdl-access=free}}

• {{cite journal|last1=Plaschka|first1=Clemens|last2=Nozawa|first2=Kayo|last3=Cramer|first3=Patrick|title=Mediator Architecture and RNA Polymerase II Interaction|journal=Journal of Molecular Biology|volume=428|issue=12|year=2016|pages=2569–2574|issn=0022-2836|doi=10.1016/j.jmb.2016.01.028|pmid=26851380}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Sainsbury|first1=Sarah|last2=Bernecky|first2=Carrie|last3=Cramer|first3=Patrick|title=Structural basis of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II|journal=Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology|volume=16|issue=3|year=2015|pages=129–143|issn=1471-0072|doi=10.1038/nrm3952|pmid=25693126|s2cid=32487971}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Cramer|first1=Patrick|title=A Tale of Chromatin and Transcription in 100 Structures|journal=Cell|volume=159|issue=5|year=2014|pages=985–994|issn=0092-8674|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.047|pmid=25416940|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0024-44B9-9|s2cid=8634234|hdl-access=free}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Cheung|first1=Alan C.M.|last2=Cramer|first2=Patrick|title=A Movie of RNA Polymerase II Transcription|journal=Cell|volume=149|issue=7|year=2012|pages=1431–1437|issn=0092-8674|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.006|pmid=22726432|s2cid=18405467|doi-access=free|hdl=11858/00-001M-0000-0015-3E91-7|hdl-access=free}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Cramer|first1=Patrick|title=Deciphering the RNA polymerase II structure: a personal perspective|journal=Nature Structural & Molecular Biology|volume=13|issue=12|year=2006|pages=1042–1044|issn=1545-9993|doi=10.1038/nsmb1206-1042|pmid=17146456|s2cid=31141435}}

• Aufbruch in die molekulare Systembiology. - Essay for the anniversary edition "20 Jahre Laborjournal", Published in Laborjournal on 11 July 2014.
• Entwicklungen in der Biomedizin: Genom-Sequenzierung in Diagnose, Prävention und Therape; Systembiologie und Medizin. In: T. Rendtorff (Hrsg.): Zukunft der biomedizinischen Wissenschaften. Nomos, 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-8487-0849-9}}.
• O. Primavesi, P. Cramer, R. Hickel, T. O. Höllmann; W. Schön: Lob der Promotion. Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on 19 July 2013.
• J. Hacker, T. Rendtorff, P. Cramer, M. Hallek, K. Hilpert, C. Kupatt, M. Lohse, A. Müller, U Schroth, F. Voigt, M. Zichy. Biomedizinische Eingriffe am Menschen – Ein Stufenmodell zur ethischen Bewertung von Gen- und Zelltherapie. Water de Gruyter, Berlin. {{ISBN|978-3-11-021306-5}} (2009).

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• 2000 EMBO Young Investigator Award
• 2000 MSC Future Investigator Award
• 2002 GlaxoSmithKline Science Award
• 2004 10th Eppendorf Award for Young European Researchers
• 2006 Leibniz Prize{{Cite web|url=https://www.dfg.de/gefoerderte_projekte/wissenschaftliche_preise/leibniz-preis/2006/cramer/index.html|title=Press release by the German Research Foundation (DFG) on the Leibniz Price 2006|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2008 Bijvoet Medal, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University{{cite web|url=http://bijvoet-center.eu/bijvoet-medal/|title=Bijvoet Medal|publisher=Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research|access-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191415/http://bijvoet-center.eu/bijvoet-medal/|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=dead}}
• 2009 Ernst Jung Prize for Medicine{{Cite web|url=https://www.jung-stiftung.de/de/ausgezeichnete-medizin/ernst-jung-preis-fuer-medizin/alle-preistraeger|title=List of laureates of the Ernst Jung Prize for Medicine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919114818/https://www.jung-stiftung.de/de/ausgezeichnete-medizin/ernst-jung-preis-fuer-medizin/alle-preistraeger|archive-date=19 September 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2009 Hansen Family Award, Bayer Science & Education Foundation{{Cite web|url=http://www.bayer-foundations.com/en/hansen-family-award.aspx|title=Website of the Bayer Foundation on the Hansen Family Award|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2009 Member, German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina)
• 2009 Member, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
• 2010 Advanced Grant of the European Research Council ('TRANSIT'){{Cite web|url=https://www.uni-muenchen.de/informationen_fuer/presse/presseinformationen/2010/f-81-10.html|title=Press release by the University of Munich: Patrick Cramer receives ERC Advanced Grant|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2010 Medal of Honour, Robert Koch Institute
• 2011 Feldberg Foundation Prize{{Cite web|url=http://www.feldbergfoundation.org/prizewinners/resume/patrick_cramer.htm|title=Website of the Feldberg Foundation Prize|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2012 Vallee Foundation Visiting Professorship
• 2012 Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany{{Cite web|url=https://www.uni-muenchen.de/aktuelles/news/2012/verdienstkreuz.html|title=Press release of the University of Munich: Cross of Merit for Patrick Cramer|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2012 Paula und Richard von Hertwig Preis
• 2015 Arthur Burkhardt Preis{{Cite web|url=http://www.arthur-burkhardt-stiftung.de/|title=Website of the Arhur Burkhardt Foundation|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2015 Guest Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden{{Cite web|url=http://ki.se/en/bionut/genome-regulation-patrick-cramer|title=Website of the Cramer Laboratory at the Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2016 Advanced Grant of the European Research Council ('TRANSREGULON'){{Cite web|url=http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/15342296/pr_1615|title=Press release by the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany: Advanced Grant of the ERC for Patrick Cramer|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2016 Centenary Award of the British Biochemical Society{{Cite web|url=https://www.biochemistry.org/Awards/TheCentenaryAward.aspx|title=Biochemical Society – The Centenary Award|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=23 May 2017}}
• 2017 Elected Member, Academia Europaea
• 2017 Honorary Professor, Georg August University of Göttingen
• 2017 Weigle Lectureship, University of Geneva
• 2018 Inaugural George William Jourdian Lectureship, University of Michigan
• 2019 Ernst Schering Prize
• 2020 Otto Warburg Medal
• 2021 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine{{cite web | title=Patrick Cramer erhält den Louis-Jeantet-Preis für Medizin 2021 | website=Max-Planck-Gesellschaft | date=31 March 2021 | url=https://www.mpg.de/16332914/0125-bich-patrick-cramer-erhaelt-louis-jeantet-preis-2021-152115-x | language=de | access-date=30 April 2021}}
• 2023 Shaw Prize in Life Sciences[https://www.shawprize.org/news/announcement-press-conference-2023-press-release Shaw Prize 2023]

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• 2025 Honorary doctorate, Bar-Ilan University{{cite web |title=Recipients 2025 {{!}} BIU Groups |url=https://sites.biu.ac.il/en/bot/page/6533 |website=sites.biu.ac.il |access-date=20 May 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/cramer Patrick Cramer at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen]
• [http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/12606063/publications List of publications]
• [http://www.lmb.uni-muenchen.de/cramer/patrickCramer/index.htm Cramer at the Gene Center Munich]
• {{in lang|de}} [https://www.dfg.de/aktuelles_presse/preise/leibniz_preis/2006/cramer.html Porträt at the Deutschen Forschungsgesellschaft]

{{Shaw Prize laureates}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cramer, Patrick}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:German biochemists

Category:21st-century German biologists

Category:Stanford University alumni

Category:Academic staff of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Category:Science teachers

Category:Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize winners

Category:European Research Council grantees

Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Category:Bijvoet Medal recipients

Category:Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences

Category:Max Planck Institute directors