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Autosomal‐dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disorder in humans. Patients with ADPKD develop countless fluid‐filled cavities in their kidneys,
which lead to kidney failure and to the need for dialysis treatment. The project aims to develop new treatment options for this disease. Applying 3D cell culture techniques, a “kidney‐on‐chip” platform,

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a muscle disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Current treatment approaches have not been effective in halting the progression of the disease.

Neutrophil granulocytes and platelets are among the most abundant blood cells in humans. While neutrophils are primarily attributed important roles in host defenses against bacteria, platelets are known for their involvement in hemostasis and the formation of clots (thrombosis). During severe infections, both cell types can mutually activate the other. If this activation exceeds physiological levels, inflammatory reactions can escalate and harm the body through organ injury.

Immunotherapy stands for a great achievement for patients with various tumors. However, there are also patients who do not profit from this kind of therapy. Reliable markers to predict the response are still lacking. This would be desirable to prevent therapy induced side effects, allow an early change of the therapy regimen and reduce therapy related costs. Using analyses of peripheral blood immune cells bevor and after immunotherapy we want to find markers that allow a response prediction.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and the most frequent cause of non-traumatic, neurologically based disability during young adulthood. In the case of MS, a chronic inflammation in the brain and spinal cord leads to a continuous loss of nerve cells (neurons) which cannot be treated effectively via therapies. New therapeutic approaches are therefore necessary in order to directly protect the neurons.

Intact intestinal wound healing is the key to successful surgical therapy for colorectal cancer. In particular, healing of the sutures that reconnect the two intestinal ends after tumor resection is critical. However, the rate of leakage around these sutures (anastomotic leakage) remains high, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The present project aims to investigate in detail the cellular processes during anastomotic healing.

The immune system is constantly working to prevent the spread of cancer cells and the development and progression of tumors. However, this intended immune response can be misdirected and cause neurological symptoms. Such diseases, known as paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS), can affect different parts of the nervous system.

Sensory neurons are not only responsible for sensory perceptions, but actively contribute to the regulation of  immune and tissue processes through the release of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. Therefore, they play a significant role in fighting pathogens, allergic processes and influence wound healing and regeneration. This project aims to characterize age-related changes in stimulus recognition and response in sensory neurons, and to decipher if immune cells are an active driver in the progression of this process.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is frequently associated with cardiac arrhythmias, thereby reducing quality and expectancy of life. Thus, new and improved treatment strategies are urgently warranted. We have recently found an increased activation of a specific disease factor (CaMKIIδ) in patients with SDB, which favours the occurrence of arrhythmias. Our goal is to eliminate the activation site of this harmful disease factor to develop a new treatment. This will be tested and optimized in human cardiac myocytes as well as in mice with SDB.

In chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, viral load is higher in male patients compared to females, increasing their risk for severe complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Data from animal models and own preliminary data suggest a differential viral control by HBV-specific CD8+ T cells in females and males. It is therefore the goal of this research proposal to define the immunological mechanisms responsible for the gender-specific differences.