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Autism spectrum disorders affect around 1 in 100 children worldwide. Their presentation and underlying causes are diverse: although numerous genetic risk factors are known, a clear genetic cause can only be identified in a proportion of affected individuals. There is growing evidence that non-genetic factors may also play a role, including maternal autoantibodies. During pregnancy, these antibodies can cross the placenta and reach the unborn child, where they may bind to structures in the developing brain and influence the development of the nervous system.

Malignant tumors do not act in local isolation. They alter the entire organism by affecting metabolism, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and internal organs. These systemic changes, in turn, influence the course of disease, for example by affecting treatment tolerance or promoting the development of new metastases. This interplay between the tumor and the host organism is referred to as the tumor macroenvironment.

AI is increasingly permeating many areas of our lives, including medicine- e.g. through wearables. Leading companies are also working to integrate LLMs into hospitals. Yet recent studies suggest that current models are not yet ready for this use and may even pose risks to patients. For this reason, among others, AI applications in high-risk domains such as medicine must therefore be transparent, controllable and open to human intervention to reduce errors. This requirement is also reflected in the EU AI Act.

Genetic changes in the HNF1B gene are a common cause of congenital kidney disease. However, these genetic changes can result in a wide range of kidney malformations and varying degrees of impaired kidney function. Using kidney organoids, the researchers investigate how different variants in this gene affect kidney development and function. The findings may help explain these variable disease presentations and identify potential targets for future therapies.

Immunophenotyping is an important method for diagnosing and monitoring diseases of the blood and the immune system. However, flow cytometry—the method predominantly used today—requires costly equipment, complex workflows, and specially trained personnel. This hinders standardized application and limits access to modern cell diagnostics, particularly outside of specialized medical centers.

The most common cause of death among extremely preterm infants is respiratory distress syndrome, which is currently treated with invasive mechanical ventilation. However, this form of ventilation is associated with various long-term lung complications.

The project investigates how adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) process sounds in everyday situations and how this is related to attention, distractibility, and sensory overload. Many affected individuals report that background noise, for example in offices, conversations, or public spaces, substantially interferes with their ability to concentrate. To date, however, such auditory processing alterations have predominantly been investigated under controlled laboratory conditions.

Reticular stromal cells form the structural framework of lymph nodes and are essential for their organization and function as central hubs of the immune system, where T and B cells are activated. Since B cells produce antibodies against self-structures in many autoimmune diseases, the scientists hypothesize that reticular stromal cells are involved in their pathogenesis. The project therefore investigates how established B-cell-targeted therapies influence the stromal system and whether novel approaches that directly target stromal cells can improve therapeutic efficacy.

The InhalPlus project addresses a major challenge in the care of preterm infants: During non-invasive respiratory support, a large proportion of inhaled medication is lost within the ventilation circuit when using conventional aerosol delivery systems. As a result, therapeutically effective drug doses often fail to reach the lungs.