Project Details
Projekt
GRK 1043: Antigen-specific Immuntherapy
Subject Area
Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
Term
from 2004 to 2013
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 375059
The development of antigen-specific immunotherapies is of fundamental importance for the prevention and treatment of infectious, allergic and malignant diseases. Within the Research Training Group young scientists will investigate the immunologic, biochemical and molecular biological fundamentals of vaccination strategies and immunotherapies and will contribute to the implementation of these in clinical applications.
Due to the field of research and the focus on clinical immunology, the Research Training Group exhibits a tight association to the immunologic and infectious disease oriented Collaborative Research Centres (SFB 432, SFB 490, SFB 548) already established in Mainz. Involved in the programme are research groups of the clinical institutes (I. Med. Clinic, III. Med. Clinic, Dermatology und Gynaecology), clinical-theoretical institutes (Immunology, Virology, Microbiology) and the faculty of biology.
The projects of the Research Training Group can be divided into three parts: One part deals with the molecular fundamentals of antigen-specific immunotherapies. In this part novel target antigens for vaccination strategies are to be identified with the help of gene technology, protein chemistry and immunological methods. A second part deals with the analysis of the structure and function of carrier proteins and adjuvants (KLH, CpG DNA) used for vaccinations. Finally, a third part evaluates novel vaccines in animal models and clinical trials of immune therapy. In addition to education and practical instruction within the individual projects, the Research Training Group will provide an intensive teaching programme in order to provide a broad knowledge in the fields of biomedicine and clinical immunology.
The results of the projects in the Research Training Group may contribute on the long run to an improved therapy of infectious, allergic and malignant diseases.
Due to the field of research and the focus on clinical immunology, the Research Training Group exhibits a tight association to the immunologic and infectious disease oriented Collaborative Research Centres (SFB 432, SFB 490, SFB 548) already established in Mainz. Involved in the programme are research groups of the clinical institutes (I. Med. Clinic, III. Med. Clinic, Dermatology und Gynaecology), clinical-theoretical institutes (Immunology, Virology, Microbiology) and the faculty of biology.
The projects of the Research Training Group can be divided into three parts: One part deals with the molecular fundamentals of antigen-specific immunotherapies. In this part novel target antigens for vaccination strategies are to be identified with the help of gene technology, protein chemistry and immunological methods. A second part deals with the analysis of the structure and function of carrier proteins and adjuvants (KLH, CpG DNA) used for vaccinations. Finally, a third part evaluates novel vaccines in animal models and clinical trials of immune therapy. In addition to education and practical instruction within the individual projects, the Research Training Group will provide an intensive teaching programme in order to provide a broad knowledge in the fields of biomedicine and clinical immunology.
The results of the projects in the Research Training Group may contribute on the long run to an improved therapy of infectious, allergic and malignant diseases.
DFG Programme
Research Training Groups
Applicant Institution
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Spokesperson
Professor Dr. Thomas Johann Wölfel, since 4/2009
Participating Researchers
Professor Dr. Christoph Becker; Professor Dr. Heinz Decker (†); Professorin Dr. Susetta Finotto, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Stephan Grabbe; Professor Dr. Jürgen Markl; Professor Dr. Bodo Plachter; Professor Dr. Ugur Sahin; Professor Dr. Hansjörg Schild; Professor Dr. Edgar Schmitt; Professor Dr. Juergen Siebler; Professorin Dr. Ruth Esther von Stebut-Borschitz; Professor Dr. Ari Waisman
