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Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, one of 15 patients develops severe neurological adverse events, for which targeted treatment options and predictive markers are missing. Within the research project, the scientists establish the first animal model of neurological immune-related adverse events (irAE-n) and analyze patient-derived immune cells driving irAE-n, to identify the underlying disease mechanisms and to test new therapeutic approaches.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3A mutations cause hypertension with brachydactyly (HTNB). While the brachydactyly (short fingers) is harmless, the hypertension is severe and would typically lead to end-organ damage, such as cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure or chronic kidney disease. Surprisingly, HTNB patients do not show any significant damage of this kind. 

Immunosuppressants are the gold standard therapy for many renal diseases. However, systemic side effects are major drawbacks. In this project the potential of lipid nanoparticles, functionalized to target kidney integrins and loaded with novel therapeutic substances will be investigated as a potential renal specific therapy. The scientist will use three different zebrafish kidney disease models and characterize the uptake of nanoparticles.

Immuno-oncology therapies offer the potential to deliver clinical benefit by utilizing the patient´s immune system to fight cancer. However, therapeutic efficacy can be limited by an immune-cold tumor microenvironment, characterized by absence of immune cell infiltration which is frequently caused by genetic mutations. Within this project, we aim to understand how cancer mutations shape the immune cell microenvironment in lymphoma. Based on this, we aim to discover treatment strategies to restore the immune cell infiltration in subgroups defined by these driver mutations.

Parkinson's disease is a widespread condition that hampers movements and greatly impacts the daily life of patients. In this research, the scientists question how the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease processes glucose - the main fuel for our brains. Using state-of-the-art techniques and specially marked glucose, they can precisely trace how glucose is used in the human brain to generate energy. This knowledge helps to  better understand Parkinson's disease mechanisms and lays the groundwork for developing new treatments.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute, virus-related liver inflammation (viral hepatitis). No vaccines against HEV have been approved in Europe. Current treatments are non-specific, have severe side effects and can cause resistance. In order to cause an infection, HEV must introduce its genetic material into a host cell. This step is crucial for the replication of the virus and could be a promsing target for new drugs. However, little is known about how HEV enters the cells.

Central nervous system lymphoma is a rare disease. Therapeutic approaches require a fine balance between destroying all tumor cells while sparing surrounding healthy brain tissue. Circulating tumor DNA sequencing is a noninvasive method offering significant advantages regarding feasibility and repeatability as compared to invasive brain biopsies. However, the role of the blood-brain-barrier in releasing circulating tumor DNA into the peripheral blood and being permeable to drugs remains elusive.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most common diseases in erlderly people, with an overall prevalence of around 3-10% and a prevalence of 15-20% in people over 70 years. It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Current diagnostic tools include the ankle brachial index (ABI), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA), which mainly examine the macrocirculation.

The drugs that best protect against the rejection of a transplanted kidney cause damage to the organ itself through toxic side effects. As a result, the transplants survive for a shorter time. Therefore, a switch to a different immunosuppression is often attempted. However, only around half of those treated benefit from this and the rate of rejection also increases slightly.