DOOM Study - Determining The Role Of CD8+ T Cell Specificity In Obesity-induced Immune Modulation

• Applicant: Dr. Nathalie Schmidt
• Subject Area: Clinical Infectiology and Tropical Medicine
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 573849643

Over half of the adult population in Germany are overweight with major consequences for personal and public health. Obesity contributes to a severe course of respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. In contrast, latent infections caused by Herpesviridae seem to be less affected. One possible cause for severe infections is a failure of the immune system that protects from infections. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of obesity on the immune system, particularly focusing on differences in the immune response against respiratory viruses and Herpesviridae. Understanding these differences allows determining mechanisms leading to a severe course of infections and the development of novel immune-boosting therapies for obese people.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants