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Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern, associated with increased mortality and rising healthcare costs. Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. This project aims to develop an innovative immunotherapy against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa using bispecific antibodies. These are designed to simultaneously bind bacterial structures and immune cells, selectively activate the immune system, and overcome bacterial defense mechanisms.

Chronic stress can trigger or worsen mental health symptoms in children and adolescents, such as in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or ADHD. The project examines how chronic stress affects symptoms in both conditions, as well as how tasks are performed and what happens in the brain during these tasks. Participants are asked about their stress levels, and stress hormones are measured from hair samples. Additionally, a specialized stress management training is conducted. The study team was directly trained by the developers of this training from the USA.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million fatalities, primarily due to widespread metastasis. The HiResMet-Study is a monocentric feasibility study aimed at supramaximal resection of brain metastases using intraoperative neuropathological evaluations. This trial will analyze perimetastatic and peritumoral tissue to characterize endothelial reprogramming related to prometastatic genes using single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.

Adrenocortical tumors and hypercortisolism represent significant endocrine disorders with complex pathophysiology. The research focuses on the pivotal role of mitochondria in adrenocortical function, particularly in steroidogenesis and cell proliferation. The scientists will investigate the effects of established treatments on mitochondrial function in vitro and in vivo, using advanced cell culture techniques and animal models. Additionally, they will explore novel mitochondria-targeted therapies, potentially uncovering synergistic effects with current treatments.

Medical data sharing is often impeded by privacy concerns and proprietary interests. Novel methods of generative artificial intelligence (AI) enable the synthesis of medical data that closely mimic properties of real patient data, both in image and tabular form. Synthetic data can be freely shared, tailored to the researchers’ needs, and extrapolated to accommodate for often small sample sizes in rare diseases.

*with T lymphocytes transduced by RV-SFG.CD19.CD28.4-1BBzeta retroviral vector – a single-center phase Ib clinical trial

“Key to Complexity” explores, at the molecular and cellular level, how mutations in the SHOC2 gene – part of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway – alter communication and control within immune cells. By gaining these basic scientific insights, the team aims to uncover how such mutations may dysregulate immunity and initiate lupus. Over the next three years, this foundational knowledge will then be leveraged toward developing earlier diagnostic methods and targeted treatments, ultimately aiming to deliver more effective care with fewer side effects for patients.

The bacteria causing tuberculosis can be divided into nine groups based on their genetic makeup. Each group has its own distribution with some being found globally and others limited to specific regions, and there are differences in how easily these bacteria can spread. In this study, the scientists will combine data on TB cases, their contacts, and bacterial genetics to understand why some genetic groups are more easily transmised in the diverse population.

Two of the most important DNA-associated processes in a cell, the transcription of DNA for replication and the conversion of genetic information into messenger RNA (mRNA), are subject to stringent coordination. If this coordination is disrupted, conflicts arise between the two, which can lead to DNA damage and trigger cell death. Since both processes are highly active in tumor cells, the risk of corresponding conflicts is increased and tumor cells are therefore particularly dependent on functional coordination.

The HCMV-NEW-ABSTRATEGY project aims to develop innovative treatments for Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a complex pathogen that poses risks to immunocompromised individuals and unborn children. The team will study multiple surface proteins to understand and effectively combat HCMV. Using this knowledge and advanced equipment, they plan to isolate clinically protective antibodies from individuals with strong immune responses against HCMV. They will refine these antibodies and explore their various effector functions to maximize their therapeutic potential.