Arbeitsgruppen

Current projects:

1. Effect of the autonomous nervous system (ANV) on the acute and chronic rejection process in murine transplant model

2. Effect of Cathepsin S on the development of chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV)

3. Role of the microbiome for the development of biliary complications following liver transplantation

4. Role of Progenitor cells on regeneration and incidence of cancer following renal transplantation

Immunotherapy of malignant diseases is a very promising tool for treatment of immunogenic solid tumors and/or those ones which induce strong immunosuppressive environment. We are investigating molecular mechanisms of tumor escape and survival strategies. Future goals include the development of a pipeline that goes from the identification and characterization of new tumor antigens and molecular targets to their possible application for clinical trials, through the detailed molecular and biochemical study and preclinical investigation in animal models.

This research group is focused on pancreatic diseases including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

This working group tries to identify key mechanisms of cancer stem cell (CSC) pathway regulation with the help of which we aim to develop novel translational therapeutic concepts that will help to defeat pancreatic cancer in patients in the future.

Our research group adresses invention, testing and further development of surgical technology and medical technology in general.

Our working group investigates various aspects of intestinal inflammation, barrier dysfunction and microbial colonization as well as associated pathologies. These include dysbiosis, endotoxinemia, and the resulting chronic inflammation, which affects our entire organism in various ways, e.g., the gut-liver axis, which connects the gut with the liver via the portal vein. Using ex-vivo and in-vitro studies, we are aiming at characterizing luminal, portal-venous and systemic mediators and looking for new therapeutic targets. Another research focus are inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease).

The research group is focused on the identification and circumvention of therapeutic resistance in gastrointestinal cancers aiming to personalized drug selection.

For more information see following link:

We are particularly interested in the contribution of nerves in the initiation process and progression of pancreatic cancer PDAC. In several carcinomas, neuronal signaling has been found to regulate relevant processes of cancer biology. Until recently, pancreatic cancer has not been in the focus of respective research. But in view of the incidence and poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer, new insights in biology and therapeutic strategies are of prime importance. Our work focuses on influences of the nervous system on pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Thereby we investigate effects proliferation and apoptosis of carcinoma cells as well as on interactions with tumor-microenvironment and dissemination and metastasis formation. We are working to facilitate the clinical realization of basic science principles in order to improve the care and treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.

This research group focuses on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgical care.

We work collaboratively with clinicians and AI researchers to develop predictive models which aid physicians in decision making.

Current projects aim to predict oncological outcomes in liver surgery and optimize organ allocation as well as quality management in transplantation.

Identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers to develop individualized and phase dependent therapies for ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease.

To this aim, we have developed three platforms: The human chronic inflammatory disease, HuCID Profiling platform is based on a panel of surface markers of immune cells to determine the individual immune profile of patients. Analysis leads to a better understanding of the inflammatory processes and will ultimately lead to stratification of patients for therapies. The HuCID Disease Map depicts the communication of epithelial cells, immune cells and fibrocytes and leads to the prediction of mechanistic side effects. The HuCID UC and the HuCID CD animal models are based on immune-compromised mice reconstituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with UC or CD. This model gives a better reflection of the human disease and allows for testing of therapeutics directed against human targets. The combination of all three platforms will lead to risk reduction in clinical trials.