In 2001, Cramer returned to Germany, where he obtained atenure-track professorship for biochemistry at the Gene Center of theLudwig 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,[4] from 2004 until 2013.[2] 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 theGerman Research Council (DFG).
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 2014–2023
Cramer conducts basic research as the head of the Department of Molecular Biology[7] at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen. He also works as a science manager and anhonorary professor at theUniversity of Göttingen. During his postdoctoral research withRoger Kornberg, Cramer determined the atomic, three-dimensional structure ofRNA polymerase II, one of the biggestenzymes in thecell 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 ofeukaryotic transcription.[8]
Cramer's group created the first molecular movie of transcription initiation and elongation.[9] Moreover, Patrick Cramer developed methods to analyze fundamental aspects of RNAmetabolism in cells by integrating aspects of both molecular andsystems biology. His long-term goal is to understand theexpression and theregulation 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"[10] for theCOVID-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."[10]
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.
Plaschka, Clemens; Nozawa, Kayo; Cramer, Patrick (2016). "Mediator Architecture and RNA Polymerase II Interaction".Journal of Molecular Biology.428 (12):2569–2574.doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2016.01.028.ISSN0022-2836.PMID26851380.
Sainsbury, Sarah; Bernecky, Carrie; Cramer, Patrick (2015). "Structural basis of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II".Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.16 (3):129–143.doi:10.1038/nrm3952.ISSN1471-0072.PMID25693126.S2CID32487971.
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,ISBN978-3-8487-0849-9.
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.ISBN978-3-11-021306-5 (2009).
