Thursday, 19-06-2025

Press Release

Antibodies in Focus: New Research Training Group Established in Lübeck

The new Research Training Group GRK3095 is investigating which mechanisms lead to antibodies triggering either protective or pathogenic reactions in the skin, lungs and intestines.

The University of Lübeck has been awarded funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a new Research Training Group in the field of immunology. Starting in spring 2026, doctoral researchers will explore how antibodies are generated that exert both protective and pathogenic effects at barrier organs such as the skin, gut, and lungs. The program will be led by Prof. Dr. Rudolf Manz from the Institute of Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF) and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Derer-Petersen from the Institute of Nutritional Medicine at the University of Lübeck. The structured and interdisciplinary training program has a particular emphasis on bioinformatics. It will also benefit from the expertise of principal investigators at Kiel University, which is involved as a co-applicant institution.

With the establishment of Research Training Group 3095 “Protective and Pathogenic Antibody Responses at Barrier Organs,” the University of Lübeck is further strengthening its position as a leading institution in the training of early-career immunology researchers. The group is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Rudolf Manz, with Prof. Dr. Stefanie Derer-Petersen serving as co-coordinator. The central research question is how antibodies are produced at immunologically active barriers such as the skin, lungs, and intestines. The goal is to better understand how B cells are activated to produce antibodies that, on the one hand, protect against pathogens, but on the other, can also drive inflammatory diseases, allergies, or autoimmune disorders.

“I am truly excited about this new shared mission—to promote scientific innovation, curiosity, and interdisciplinary research among young scientists in a structured doctoral program. Over the next four to five years, we will also work together to shape the scientific direction of the program’s second funding period, during which I will take over coordination from my colleague Rudolf Manz,” says Prof. Derer-Petersen.

Doctoral Training with a Bioinformatics Focus

A particular hallmark of the Research Training Group is its structured, interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong focus on bioinformatic data analysis. This enhancement of the training concept—compared to previous Research Training Groups—reflects the rapidly growing importance of bioinformatics in analyzing immunological processes. In addition to research projects in biomedical and natural sciences, the program includes a dedicated bioinformatics project. Doctoral researchers will gain skills in programming languages, machine learning, and interdisciplinary communication. Two overlapping cohorts will ensure a sustainable peer-learning structure that actively fosters exchange and knowledge transfer.

The Research Training Group is part of the University of Lübeck’s broader strategy to promote early-career researchers in translational medicine. It is closely linked to the Cluster of Excellence “Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation” (PMI) and brings together expertise from immunology, molecular medicine, clinical research, and bioinformatics. The training concept includes a structured curriculum, tandem supervision, retreats, and an interdisciplinary qualification program. The goal is to prepare young researchers for academic careers at the intersection of research and clinical application and to qualify them as experts in the analysis and evaluation of complex immunological processes.

Scientific expertise is further strengthened by the involvement of principal investigators from Kiel University, the co-applicant institution in the program. Both universities benefit from their long-standing collaboration in inflammation research and from the research environment of the Cluster of Excellence PMI.

“Being involved in the training of doctoral researchers means helping shape the future—both by fostering scientific excellence and by teaching fundamental values such as respectful collaboration with colleagues and partners,” says Prof. Dr. Rudolf Manz.