GRK 2668:  Immune Master Switches in Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: since 2022
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 435874434

Up to 40% of the population in developed countries suffer from allergic diseases and approximately 5-8% from autoimmune diseases with still increasing prevalence. Therefore, a better mechanistic understanding of disease pathogenesis is urgently required for the development of appropriate diagnostics and for novel treatment strategies. Here we propose a research training group (RTG) that aims to identify Immune Master Switches (IMS), which act as key determinants of a directed disease development toward initiation, chronification, and resilience or resolution of inflammation in allergic and autoimmune diseases. These IMS operate within diseased tissues/organs in which environmental and endogenous triggers are decoded by a cellular network. In the context of tissue-specific response patterns, this RTG will gain a better understanding on IMS relevant for disease and the stratification of inflammatory subtypes beyond the classical Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses in autoimmuneand allergic diseases. The scientific objectives of this RTG therefore are i) the identification of IMS in different disease phases such as initiation, chronification and resilience/resolution in allergies and autoimmune diseases, ii) a broader understanding and a more precise stratification of inflammatory subtypes beyond traditional categories of immune responses in allergy and autoimmunity, iii) the cross-evaluation of research findings and iv) the evaluation of scientific data with a focus on translation and its possible use in medicine. To achieve these objectives, this RTG will combine excellent scientific expertise and a broad spectrum of cutting-edge technologies by integrating highly experienced PIs/junior PIs in twelve translational tandem research projects for trainees from life sciences and medicine. The RTG qualification concept which is integrated in the TUM School of Medicine is offering ideal conditions for further career development and will focus on the transfer of knowledge in translational science in allergy and autoimmunity, the development and deep understanding of practical research skills and the support of personal career development for all integrated trainees. Therefore, this RTG set up a specific 3-year curriculum in which all members will be integrated. The current topic in an emerging field of research, together with the scientific and methodological excellence gathered in the RTG offers trainees of this RTG a high-quality education that forms the basis for their future careers.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Tilo Biedermann
• Participating Researchers: Privatdozent Dr. Veit Buchholz; Professor Dr. Dirk Busch; Professorin Dr. Clarissa Prazeres da Costa; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Eyerich; Privatdozentin Dr. Natalie Garzorz-Stark, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Percy Alexander Knolle; Professor Dr. Thomas Korn; Dr. Felix Lauffer, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Ulrike Protzer; Professor Dr. Jürgen Ruland; Professor Dr. Marc Schmidt-Supprian; Professor Dr. Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber, Ph.D.