This research area focuses on the resolution of the nature and function of dendritic cells (DCs) and other immune cells in the pathogenesis of medically important human diseases such as skin inflammation, psoriasis, and cancer. Diseases characterized by the presence of undesired inflammation contribute significantly to shortened life expectancy, pain and/or diminished quality of life to a vast number of people. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, colitis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Moreover, inflammation is considered to promote development of various types of cancer. Current therapies for inflammatory disorders treat only the symptoms of the disease but not the underlying causes of inflammation. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathomechanisms leading to inflammatory diseases is needed. The combination of research efforts using patient-derived material and innovative transgenic mouse models that allow to selectively modulating specific DC subsets in vivo will likely uncover important functions of these cells in psoriasis and cancer.

Research Groups:
Robert Eferl    
Maria Sibilia
Georg Stingl

 
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