Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the main cause of death worldwide and there is high need for a better understanding of molecular disease mechanisms and improved therapy. Non-coding RNA molecules have come into focus of cardiovascular research, as they control key processes in the cardiovascular system and as successful manipulation in disease models in vivo underscores their therapeutic potential.

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Although immune cells are in principle capable of recognizing and destroying malignant cells, deviated immune signals can also directly promote initiation and development of cancer by creating tumor promoting inflammatory environments, and by suppressing natural antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, immune cells themselves can be targets of malignant transformation, and human lymphomas and leukemias are frequently driven by mutations influencing immune receptor signaling pathways. The SFB/TRR 1335 investigates how these aberrant immune signals drive and support cancer to ultimately pave the way for the development of novel strategies that target aberrant immune signals for cancer therapy.

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The SFB 824 (Imaging for Selection, Monitoring and Individualization of Cancer Therapies) represents an interdisciplinary consortium which aims at the development of novel imaging technologies for the selection and monitoring of cancer therapy as important support for personalized medicine.

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Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) can have varying outcomes, from irreversible destruction to partial recovery of the affected tissue. The aim of our CRC is to determine immunological, glial and neuronal checkpoints, in order to understand what drives such a diverging response to CNS injury and determines the best possible recovery of the tissue. Utilizing different injury and disease models we will examine cellular and molecular interactions and changes that will determine the factors leading to CNS recovery and/or tissue damage, with the final goal to develop new treatment options.

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Pancreatic cancer is one of the biggest challenges for oncologists and scientists: It belongs to those forms of cancer that are very aggressive and difficult to treat. Every year around 450,000 people around the world receive the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Survival in this cancer is still the lowest among all cancers: The overall 5-year survival rate is less than 8%. This has remained almost unchanged over the last 30 years, despite tremendous efforts in preclinical and clinical science. Pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the next decade. Our collaborative research center is studying biological characteristics of this cancer. We believe that only a profound mechanistic understanding of pancreatic cancer and its extreme and unique characteristics will lead to a sustained improvement of the prognosis for affected patients. Based on this clinical orientation we are determined to improve the therapy options for this specific form of cancer.

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The conceptual goal of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1371 initiative is to understand the functional relevance of microbiome signatures and to determine their precise contribution in a disease-specific manner. We chose clinical endpoints that are associated with well-documented changes in the intestinal microbiome, and unravel key mechanisms linked to aberrant immune processing (inflammation) and tissue adaptation (cancer). Integrated Research Training Group is an essential part of the CRC and will provide talented young scientists with a project-related qualification program during their PhD. This program is dedicated to the integration of knowledge and methodologies from multiple disciplines which are key to identifying and tackling the outstanding biological questions.

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