Our Research Projects

Research area: Hematopoiesis and Development

1.  Mechanobiology of the blood-bone marrow barrier and impact on platelet formation
     Supervisor:  Dr. Nathalie Brouard/Dr. Catherine Léon
     PhD Fellow: Faten Tlili
     Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR)

2. Role of Ikaros in the development of Th17 lymphocytes
     Supervisor:  Dr. Susan Chan/Dr. Céline Charvet
     PhD Fellow: Caroline Targino
     Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR)

3.  Stroma – plasma cell interaction as driver of antibody-mediated autoimmune disease
     Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Voll
     PhD Fellow: Paola Fernanda Ruiz Aparicio
     Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

4.   Drug targeting of mesenchymal - hematopoietic cell interaction
      Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Mueller
      PhD Fellow: Guillermo Federico Perez
      Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR)

5.  3D model of olfactory mucosa immune defense against SARS-Cov2 infection
     Supervisor: Dr. Vincent Flacher
     PhD Fellow: Annia Pérez Riverón
     Institution: University of Srasbourg (FR)

6.  Investigating macrophage populations regarding cytomegalovirus infection
     Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Philipp Henneke
     PhD Fellow: Agnibesh Dey
     Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

7.  Role of the Ikaros family proteins in embryonic blood cell development
     Supervisor: Dr. Susan Chan
     PhD Fellow: Mahassen El Khoury
     Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR)

Research area: Innate and Adaptive Effector Functions

8.   Regulation of the immune response by the spleen
      Supervisor: Dr. Blandine Maitre
      PhD Fellow: Gabriel Rojas Jiménez
      Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR) 

9. Post translational modifications of IL-1β; regulation and roles in IL-1β activation
       Supervisor:  Prof. Dr. Georg Häcker
       PhD Fellow: Danielle Paige Anthony
       Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

10. Modulating T cell signaling for improved anti-tumor responses
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr.  Björn Lillemeier
       PhD Fellow: Vasileios Morfos
       Institution: University of Freiburg (DE)

11. Dysregulation of B cell function in ANCA associated vasculitis
        Supervisor:  Prof. Dr. Marta Rizzi
        PhD Fellow: Bruno Benassini
        Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

12. NLRP proteins in health and disease
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß
       PhD Fellow: Xipeng Wang
       Institution: University Medical Hospital Freiburg (DE)

13. Monitoring affinity maturation during chronic viral infection
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Daniel Pinschewer
       PhD Fellow: Cemre Seven
       Institution: University of Basel (CH)

14. Impact of macrophages signaling and metabolism on NLRP3 inflammasome activity
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß
       PhD Fellow: Clara Dufossez
       Institution: University Medical Hospital Freiburg (DE)

15. Crosstalk between lymphatic endothelial cells in lymphoid organs
       Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Mueller
       PhD Fellow: Shadrack Owusu
       Institution: University of Strasbourg (FR)

16. Investigating the presence and role of MR1-restricted T cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Petr Hruz
       PhD Fellow: Vanshika Rastogi
       Institution : University of Basel (CH)

17. The physiology of MR1T cells in tumors and their use in cell therapy
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gennaro De Libero
       PhD Fellow: Natalie Kehrer
       Institution: University of Basel (CH)

Research area: Immune-related Diseases

18. Functional analysis of genetic variants in patients with inborn errors in T cells or B cells: monogenetic defects in transcription factors in late-onset hypogammaglobulinemia
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bodo Grimbacher
       PhD Fellow: Aishwarya Saxena
       Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

19. Modified TCRs on human T cells targeting tumor cells
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schamel
       PhD Fellow: Trang Nguyen
       Institution: University of Freiburg (DE)

20. Deciphering resistance mechanisms in cancer immunotherapy
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Alfred Zippelius
       PhD Fellow: Irene Fusi
       Institution: University of Basel (CH)

21. Contribution of CD44 expressed on tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) to progression of pancreatic cancer
       Supervisor:  Prof. Dr. Véronique Orian-Rousseau
       PhD Fellow: Nagwa Ibrahim
       Institution: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)

22. Identification of novel therapeutic targets in oncogenic signaling pathways in mastocytosis
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Karin Hartmann
       PhD Fellow: Alina Makeeva
       Institution: University of Basel (CH)

23. Lymphoid stromal cells in common variable immunodeficiency : potential orchestrators of the altered humoral response?
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Klaus Warnatz
       PhD Fellow: Victoria Cousin
       Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

24. B cell heterogeneity during tuberculosis infection
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Carolyn King
       PhD Fellow: Wadschma Naderi
       Institution: University of Basel (CH)

25. Determining the prevalence of binding epitopes for autoantibodies in the human population
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Frank Breitling
       PhD Fellow: Karen Cárdenas Casillas
       Institution: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)

26. Heterogeneity of virus specific CD8+ T cell dysfunction in HIV infection
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme
       PhD Fellow: Wasihun Hailemichael
       Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)

27. Structural and functional characterization of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Fcγ binding glycoprotein interaction with B cells
       Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel
       PhD Fellow: Haneen Daralnakhla
       Institution: University Medical Center Freiburg (DE)