Close-up: Pipetting of colored cell culture medium.

Research Areas

Our eight divisions and institutes are dedicated to cutting-edge research topics in the fields of immunology, neurobiology, epigenetics, gene regulation and the cardiovascular system.

Our common research interests are cells and their special functions. We study their individuality, diversity and adaptability. We are particularly interested in the plasticity of cell programs. Cell programs adapt to metabolic or environmental influences. They respond to pathological changes such as infection, injury or nutrient deprivation Many common diseases are based on altered cell programs and misdirected cell communication, e.g. tumor growth or cell death in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. We want to understand the potential and limitations of cell plasticity in different contexts, such as the immune system, the central nervous system or the metabolism, in order to develop new approaches for therapies.