Congenital immunity and chronic organ dysfunction
Thematically, the Else-Kröner-Forschungskolleg Bonn (EKFB) focusses on the role of the innate immune system, which primarily serves the detection of viruses and bacteria.
In recent years it has been shown that the innate immune system also plays a key role in the detection and response to tissue damage, such as physical trauma (surgery), acute hypoxia (stroke, myocardial infarction), metabolic (diabetes) and neurodegenerative disorder (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease) or tumors. In all these cases, no foreign pathogens, but body's own (endogenous) molecules lead to a so-called "sterile inflammation". Investigations on the underlying pathomechanism and new innovative therapeutic approaches is the goal of the EKFB.
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