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Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a highly effective treatment that retrieves large blood clots in acute stroke patients. Yet even when the blocked artery is fully reopened, many patients remain disabled. One reason is the No-Reflow phenomenon: tiny brain vessels stay blocked or damaged, so blood cannot reach the tissue. This project will, for the first time, study No-Reflow in patients using advanced MRI scans, blood samples taken directly during MT. The scientistst will test how these markers identify No-Reflow and predict recovery.

Infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease and the major cause of anogenital cancers. Prevention against anogenital cancers can be afforded by vaccination with currently licensed HPV vaccines. However, implementation of HPV vaccination worldwide is still a challenge due to vaccine-related costs and logistic requirements. To address these issues, the scientists have established a novel vaccine concept, PANHPVAX, incorporating cross-neutralization epitopes displayed on the surface of a thermostable scaffold.

The VELOCIRAPTOR trial (Virtual rEaLity OverComIng pRacticAl challenge of PosTOpeRative pain) is a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) in reducing postoperative pain, anxiety, and analgesic consumption following visceral oncologic surgery. A total of 150 patients undergoing elective open abdominal oncologic resection will be randomized to either a VR intervention group or a control group receiving standard care.

The aim of acute ischemic stroke treatment is a rapid dissolution of the occlusive clot. Systemic thrombolysis is an evidence-based therapy whose recanalizing potential is, among other factors, limited by the structural composition of stroke thrombi. Within this project, the scientists aim to gain improved pathophysiological understanding of the structural determinants of stroke thrombi, the influence of pre-existing anticoagulation, and factors mediating thrombolysis resistance.

Cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) require immediate intervention; however, standard high-energy defibrillation can place a strain on heart tissue and cause long-term damage. Amplitude-optimized defibrillation (AOD) enables the rapid restoration of an organized heart rhythm while minimizing myocardial stress as much as possible. 

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are characterised by a massive and uncontrolled infiltration of T cells into the gut. In these inflammatory processes, the Jak/Stat signalling pathway plays an important role. However, its role in the T cell compartment has not yet been fully elucidated, even though Jak inhibitors are already being used to treat IBD.

The immune system plays a key role in fighting cancer, but immune cells can become exhausted and stop working effectively. This project studies a molecule called IL-10, which was long thought to suppress the activity of immune cells and thereby help tumors escape the immune system. New evidence suggests the opposite: IL-10 can actually help immune cells stay active and better control cancer. Using advanced but well-established research methods, this project aims to understand how IL-10 supports immune cells and how it can be used to improve cancer treatments.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which a dysregulated immune response can lead to organ failure. One frequent and particularly dangerous complication is sepsis-induced coagulopathy. In this condition, the coagulation system becomes imbalanced, and small blood clots can form. As a result, blood flow to vital organs may be further impaired. The mechanisms underlying this coagulation disorder are still incompletely understood.

Depression is one of the most prevalent and disabling disorders worldwide. Current antidepressants often take weeks to work and fail in a significant number of patients. The project aims to develop a novel, fast-acting, and well-tolerated antidepressant by targeting the GluN2D subunit of the NMDA receptor - a mechanism the scientists identified as key to ketamine’s antidepressant effects in preclinical studies.

In Germany, young people with mental health problems often wait up to six months for treatment. These delays can worsen symptoms, lead to chronic problems, or cause school difficulties. Quick help, like single-session interventions (SSI), can bridge this gap and prevent deterioration. This study tests whether two personalized SSIs, tailored to each individual’s needs, work better than standard SSIs. Personalized SSIs will focus on the symptom that is most linked to others in individual symptom networks, based on either a self-reported perceived causal or a data-driven network model.