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CAR-T cells are engineered immune cells designed to specifically target and destroy cancer cells. While they have shown great success in treating blood cancer, they face significant challenges in solid tumors. These challenges include limited penetration into the tumor and functional suppression by the tumor microenvironment. In this project, the researchers combine CAR-T cells with agents that stimulate the innate immune system, which could enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cells in solid tumor settings.

TMEM70 deficiency is a mitochondrial genetic condition that display a detrimental impact on cardiac function. It participates in the assembly of ATP synthase, which is responsible for most energy generation provided by mitochondria. Patients with TMEM70 mutations have a high incidence of cardiac disease and early-onset death. Unfortunately, therapeutic interventions remain elusive, and are limited to symptomatic and supportive care. The researchers suggest the chemical AMPK modulation as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Pathological cardiac fibrosis is a common coexisting condition in cardiovascular diseases. There are currently no therapies that can directly reverse fibrosis. The team of scientists has shown that the transcription factor Sox9 plays a crucial role in scar formation after a heart attack. However, the exact mechanisms by which it regulates cardiac fibrosis are still unclear. Cardiac fibroblasts produce extracellular matrix (ECM) after injury, and an excessive deposition of ECM leads to pathological fibrosis.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become indispensable for the diagnosis and assessment of many cardiovascular diseases. However, during the time-consuming examination, repeated breath-holding is necessary for the image acquisition. Moreover, the extensive examination can only be carried out by specially trained personnel. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods could make a decisive contribution to overcoming these limitations.

In light of the increasing life expectancy and the associated increase in individuals with cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia), there is a growing importance to understand and prevent cognitive decline in older adults. The objective of the current project is to identify individual profiles of demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors that are collectively responsible for the maintenance of brain structure and cognitive performance in older males and females. It will first be tested whether the profiles are adequate predictors of cognitive performance.

Highly potent broadly neutralizing antibodies are a promising option for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. Similar to available antiretroviral drugs, however, antibodies must be administered regularly due to their limited half-life. This project therefore aims to develop effective strategies for the endogenous expression of broadly neutralizing antibodies. To achieve durable sustained production of combinations of antibody-based agents after a single administration, optimized gene vectors based on adeno-associated viruses (AAV) will be generated.

In modern intensive care medicine, we have the ability to replace most organs at least temporarily and to remove various toxins and harmful substances from the bloodstream. These options range from dialysis in kidney failure to liver dialysis in liver failure, as well as the use of adsorption devices to eliminate substances such as cytokines, bilirubin, or myoglobin. To enable a more targeted use of these procedures in the future, the function of each device and the underlying disease must be understood in detail.

Lisa Adams and her team are investigating how rapidly individual organs age. They use MRI and CT scans to determine the biological age of the liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and muscles. With the help of reference values from population-based studies, they identify deviations that may indicate an increased risk of disease or reduced resilience. Based on the clinical data, the researchers will explore whether these organ-specific aging markers can predict complications, treatment outcomes, and the duration of hospital stays more accurately than chronological age.

Ependymomas are malignant tumours of the brain and spinal cord. As they are very resistant to standard chemotherapy, their treatment can be very challenging. The project “MOMENT-MYCN” focuses on an aggressive, incurable subtype that primarily affects adolescents and young adults. This type of tumour, which was only discovered in 2019, is characterised by too many copies of a cancer gene called “MYCN”.

An ischemic stroke not only causes local brain tissue damage but also triggers a pronounced systemic immune response. A central element of this reaction is the release of cell-free double-stranded DNA (cfDNA), originating predominantly from activated neutrophils. This cfDNA acts as a potent danger signal and is taken up by immune cells, where it activates the AIM2 inflammasome—a cellular sensor that induces the release of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β.