Research Focus

Immunology & Infectious Diseases

Area of Research

The basic focus of our scientific projects is on autoimmune diseases, as well as the role of complement and autoantibodies in different disease situations. The aim is to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms in the development and during the course of systemic autoimmunity. In this context, the clinical immunology group is a coordinating centre of the Swiss SLE Cohort Study (SSCS). As we perform translational research, the group is primarily located at the Department of Biomedicine (DBM), University Basel.

• The Swiss SLE Cohort Study (SSCS) (running since 2009) – Initiator, founding member, past treasurer, currently president of the Association of the Swiss SLE Cohort Study
• SNF project 320030_200423 "Complement-dependent pathogenic mechanisms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)", 04/2021 to 03/2025 
• Research Collaboration with Idorsia Pharma, Basel, CH «Molecular and cellular characterisation of blood from systemic lupus erythematosus patients to understand potential drug targets» in Kollaboration mit Idorsia Pharmaceuticals 01/2018 to 04/2019 
• Research Collaboration with Roche Pharma, Basel, CH “Influence of cathepsin S inhibition on crossreacting immune response against EBNA-1 of EBV and complement C1q in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)” 01/2018 to 12/2019 
• SNF project 310030_172956/1 “Complement-dependent pathogenic mechanisms in systemic autoimmunity” 04/2017 bis 03/2021 
• Horizon 2020 Innovative Medicines Initiative (Call: H2020-JTI-IMI2-2018-14-two-stage) for the project “Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms of non-response to Treatments, Relapses and Remission in Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Allergic Conditions (3TR)” 02/2019 to 01/2026 
• Trauma as a trigger of autoimmunity: an observational cohort study in patients with pertrochanteric femoral fracture (running since 2017; lead by Eliska Potlukova, Division of Internal Medicine in Basel)

National Collaborations

• The Swiss SLE Cohort Study (SSCS)

International Collaborations

• Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms of non-response to Treatments, Relapses and Remission in Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Allergic Conditions (3TR)

• Swiss SLE Cohort Study (SSCS): For more detailled information, please visit: http://www.swisslupuscohort.ch
• Complement-dependent pathogenic mechanisms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Identification of the Molecular Mechanisms of non-response to Treatments, Relapses and Remission in Autoimmune, Inflammatory, and Allergic Conditions (3TR)