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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and clinically relevant side effect of cancer treatment. It can cause pain and sensory disturbances, substantially reduce quality of life and, in some cases, require a reduction in chemotherapy dose. It remains insufficiently understood which mechanisms amplify or chronify CIPN-related pain and how these mechanisms can inform individual risk profiles and targeted therapeutic approaches.

More than 400,000 joint replacements are performed in Germany each year. Implant-associated infections occur in up to 2 % of all procedures. In revision surgeries, this risk rises up to 40 %. The consequences are serious: prolonged hospital stays, loss of function, and, in the worst cases, amputation or sepsis. Existing coating solutions are usually only effective for a short time and offer no protection against late-onset infections.

Primary aldosteronism is the most common curable cause of hypertension. Current subtyping relies on invasive adrenal venous sampling, which is technically demanding and available only in specialized centers. This project aims to develop a novel, highly specific PET tracer targeting aldosterone synthase, a key enzyme in the disease’s pathophysiology, to enable non-invasive localization of aldosterone overproduction. The overall goal is to simplify the diagnostic pathway for primary aldosteronism and advance precision medicine for affected patients.

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.