Core Research Areas
Core Competencies in Research
The landscape of university medicine in Erlangen is defined by five research focus areas.
Translational research is achieved through a close interdisciplinary connection between fundamental disciplines and clinical fields. Cross-disciplinary collaborative projects contribute to top-tier medical care.
Infectious diseases and immunology
Key aspects
This research area focuses on infection biology and immunological defense, inflammatory mechanisms, as well as autoimmunity and transplantation immunology.
Research networks and graduate programs with federal and state funding
- SFB 1181 : “Schaltstellen zur Auflösung von Entzündung” with integrated graduate program
- TRR 130: “B-Zellen: Immunität und Autoimmunität” with integrated graduate program
- TRR 221: “Steuerung der Transplantat-gegen-Wirt- und Transplantat-gegen-Leukämie- Immunreaktionen nach allogener hämatopoetischer Stammzelltransplantation” with integrated graduate program
- TRR 241: “Immun-Epitheliale Signalwege bei chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen” with integrated graduate program
- TRR 305: “Über die Analyse der metastatischen Koloniebildung zu neuen systemischen Krebstherapien“
- GRK 2504: “Neue antivirale Strategien: von der Chemotherapie bis zur Immunintervention“
- GRK 2599: “FAIR – Feinabstimmung der adaptiven Immunantwort“
- FOR 2886: “PANDORA – Pathways triggering AutoimmuNity and Defining Onset of early Rheumatoid Arthritis“
- BMBF: “MASCARA – Molekulare Charakterisierung der Remission von Arthritis”
European projects
- EAVI2020
- RTCure (Rheuma Tolerance for Cure)
Research centers and infrastructures
- German Center for Immunotherapy (DZI)
- Erlangen Center for Infection Research (ECI)
- Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen
Spokesperson
Kidney and circulation research
Key aspects
Due to their often chronic course, kidney and circulatory diseases not only affect large numbers of patients, they also cause high socioeconomic follow-up costs. At the same time, the early diagnosis of risk factors offers a great opportunity for effective prevention and the elucidation of regenerative mechanisms offers the chance of earlier rehabilitation after disease.
Research networks and graduate programs with federal and state funding
- German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study
- Translational Kidney Research (TRENAL)
- SFB 1350: “Tubulussystem und Interstitium der Niere: (Patho-)Physiologie und Crosstalk”
European projects
- Screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among older people across Europe (SCOPE)
Spokesperson
Neuroscience
Key aspects
In Erlangen, experimental and clinical neuroscience, particularly focus on topics ranging from stimulus transmission, neural signal transmission mechanisms, sensory perception, to stimulus processing and perception in pain research. The field of sensory perception is particularly reflected in glaucoma research.
Research networks and graduate programs with federal and state funding
- Bavarian Research Associationd “Humane induzierte pluripotente Stammzellen” (ForIPS)
- Bavarian Research Association “ForInter (Interaktion humaner Gehirnzellen)”
- GK 2162 “Entwicklung und Vulnerabilität des Zentralnervensystems“
European projects
- Development and epilepsy – strategies for innovative research to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in children with difficult to treat epilepsy (DESIRE)
- MicroRNA in the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of epilepsy (EpiMiRNA)
- GAbapentin in paediatric pain (GAPP)
Centers and research infrastructure
Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience (ICN)
Spokesperson
Tumor Research
Key aspects
In Erlangen, tumor research primarily focuses on the following types of cancer: breast cancer, leukemias and lymphomas, lung cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, and colorectal carcinoma. The research centers on tumor immunology and the interaction of the tumor with its environment. There is particularly outstanding expertise in the field of immunotherapy. The research’s leading position and its rapid translation into therapy and diagnostics are underscored by the Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Region Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), which is certified according to the criteria of the German Cancer Society.
Research networks and graduate programs with federal and state funding
- TRR 221: “Modulation der Transplantat-gegen-Wirt- und Transplantat-gegen-Leukämie- Immunreaktionen nach allogener hämatopoetischer Stammzelltransplantation”
- TRR 305: “Über die Analyse der metastatischen Koloniebildung zu neuen systemischen Krebstherapien“
- “Von den CARs zu den TRUCKs: Induktion einer konzertierten Antitumorimmun-Antwort durch genmodifizierte T-Zellen” – a collaborative scientific project funded by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe)
- SFB TRR 225: “Von den Grundlagen der Biofabrikation zu funktionalen Gewebemodellen“ – The content of the SFB/TRR 225 is research into the fundamentals of biofabrication and its systematic application with the aim of producing functional human tissue models (12-year perspective)..
- KIONET: Through the association of the six Bavarian university pediatric oncology centers, the combined expertise of the six pediatric oncology centers is available to children and adolescents with the disease in Bavaria.
- FOR 2438: “Cell Plasticity in Colorectal Carcinogenesis”
The consortium represents a unique network that brings together leading basic and clinical scientists with complementary expertise in gastroenterology, immunology, pathology, surgery, molecular biology, cell biology, and tumor biology who share a common goal: the development and preclinical evaluation of novel strategies for colorectal tumor prevention and therapy based on interference with cell plasticity in the tumor microenvironment. - 4I-IMMUNOCLUSTER: Within the framework of the project, FAU is cooperating with the universities of Regensburg and Würzburg. In this project, the partners hope to gain new insights into those aspects of our immune system that are of great importance for our future health: the occurrence and progression of infections, chronic inflammations and autoimmune diseases, as well as the development and growth of tumors, which are becoming increasingly widespread in an aging population.
- DigiOnko: The project “DigiOnko“ improves the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and increases the quality of life of affected women.
European projects
- EEC-EURO EWING consortium: International clinical trials to improve survival from Ewing sarcoma
Centers and research infrastructure
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC Erlangen-EMN)
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI)
- Bayrisches Zentrum für Krebsforschung (BZKF)
Spokespeople
Medical and healthcare technology
Key aspects
The experimental developments and clinical applications pursued in medical technology not only radiate from the Medical Faculty into the Faculty of Technology and Natural Sciences, but are also excellently linked to the industrial focus on medical technology in the Erlangen area. In particular, the topics of ophthalmology, imaging diagnostics, horizontal innovations, intelligent sensor technology and therapy systems are strongly represented in Erlangen.
Research networks and graduate programs with federal and state funding
- International Max Planck Research School for Optics and Imaging
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT)
- BMBF Medizininformatik-Initiative: MIRACUM
European projects
- EIT Health
- Nanomedicine for target-specific imaging and treatment of atherosclerosis: development and initial clinical feasibility (NanoAthero)
- Electronic Health Records System for Clinical Research (EHR4CR)
- European Medical Information Framework (EMIF)
Centers and research infrastructure
- Leading-edge cluster Medical Valley EMN
- Imaging Science Institute (ISI)
- Medizintechnisches Test- und Anwendungszentrum (METEAN) des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Integrierte Schaltungen
- Zentralinstitut für Medizintechnik (ZiMT)
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für augenheilkundliche Präventivmedizin und Imaging (IZPI)
Spokespeople
The Faculty of Medicine also plays a key role in the university’s scientific focus areas of “Molecular Life Sciences and Medicine”, “Medical Technology” and “Optics and Optical Technologies”. Within the framework of research alliances, there are close links with institutions of the Faculty of Technology and the Faculty of Natural Sciences.