Our scientific working groups
Scientific research is always translational and above all teamwork. Many of our research groups are made up of international teams. Here we would like to show you which topics our working groups are researching and what their goals are. If you would like to apply for a research position, please contact the research group leaders.
AG Bantel
The "Translational Hepatology" working group is concerned with the basic scientific processing of clinically-oriented questions relating to inflammatory liver diseases (e.g. NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma.
AG BehrendtThe "Translational Virology" working group deals with the processing of clinically-oriented questions with the help of basic scientific techniques. One focus is research on the hepatitis E virus. The working group is based at the TWINCORE Institute.
AG Buitrago Molina / Hardtke-WolenskiThe working group focuses on regeneration and precision medicine in liver and intestinal diseases, as well as the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis, pathophysiology and regeneration of the liver.
AG CantzWe conduct research on patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) as a model to better understand mechanisms of liver development and regeneration as well as pathophysiological changes in hepatic diseases and to make them the target of innovative treatment strategies.
AG Cornberg / KraftThe working group is concerned with research into immune responses in liver infections and infections in patients with liver disease. An important aim of the working group is to develop individual diagnosis and therapy concepts in the field of infection medicine. The working group is part of the new Centre for individualized infection Medicine (CiiM) and is currently based at the TWINCORE Institute
AG EngelOur focus is on clinically oriented translational issues in autoimmune liver diseases, in particular autoimmune hepatitis, and after liver transplantation. In particular, we work on the improvement of existing and detection of new (bio)markers for diagnostics and assessment or prediction of therapy response.
AG HeidrichThe working group researches the field of translational gastrointestinal microbiomics.
AG HeinrichThe Heinrich lab investigates the immune response and the tumour microenvironment in hepato-pancreaticobiliary tumours and liver metastases. Dr Bernd Heinrich is funded by the Max Eder Junior Research Group Programme and the Else Kröner Memorial Scholarship and is group leader in Research Training Group 2978 “Understanding and exploiting adaptation in gastrointestinal cancers”.ogramme and the Else Kröner Memorial Scholarship and is group leader in Research Training Group 2978 "Understanding and exploiting adaptation in gastrointestinal cancers".
AG Hupa-BreierOur research group investigates the immunometabolic mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progression to steatohepatitis (MASH).
AG KefalakesOur current research lines try to dissect the implication of adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of HDV infection.
AG Kühnel / KubickaIn our laboratory group, we work on the molecular design of viruses (mainly adenoviruses) so that tumor cells are attacked and destroyed as specifically as possible.
AG MaasoumyThe working group deals with the topics of "complications of liver cirrhosis", "portal hypertension" and "viral hepatitis". The issues are generally directly related to patient care. The most important goal is to improve the treatment and diagnosis of affected patients. Translational projects also aim to improve understanding of the pathomechanisms.
AG NoyanThe working group deals with questions of immune tolerance. These include mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance and loss of tolerance in type I diabetes and autoimmune hepatitis, but also in tolerance induction after transplantation.
AG Ott / BalakrishnanThe liver is the focus of our research group's work. Using cell and gene therapy methods, we develop modern therapeutic procedures for diseases that are still inadequately treatable today.
AG Saborowski/ VogelOur scientific work focuses on questions relating to the molecular pathogenesis of tumor diseases. In particular, we are interested in the regulation of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and the proliferation of hepatocytes in the context of chronic liver diseases.
AG SonographyThe working group deals with clinical-scientific issues relating to various sonographic techniques in special patient groups.
AG SeidlerThe research focus of the working group is the molecular analysis of ion transport processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
AG SharmaThe major aim of our laboratory is to develop molecular medicine-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of liver disease.
AG StahlThe working group deals with clinical and translational issues in internal intensive care medicine and interventional endoscopy.
The working group focuses on clinical and translational projects in critical care medicine and interventional endoscopy.
The Taubert team deals scientifically with immune-mediated liver diseases before and after liver transplantation, i.e. above all with autoimmune liver diseases (especially autoimmune hepatitis) and with various forms of rejection after liver transplantation.
AG Wedemeyer / WollerThe working group deals with the immune control of inflammatory liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinomas.
AG WiestlerIn our research projects, we deal with various aspects of therapy optimization as well as the special interplay of nutrition, psychosocial factors and the course of the disease in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
AG WirthThe research focus of our working group includes the investigation of the adaptive immune response in infections and in the context of tumor diseases. A particular focus of our work is the characterization of CD8 T cells and the development of innovative vaccination approaches.
AG YevsaThe research focus of the working group is on the development of personalized therapies, cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutic approaches for the prevention and cure of gastrointestinal cancers. We are also involved in the characterization of immune surveillance of liver cancer, interactions of infections and cancers.