Translational Immunology
The Kahlfuß Laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate immune responses in inflammation, autoimmune diseases, infections, and malignancies. A particular focus of the laboratory is the functional characterization of immunometabolic pathways and their impact on immune cell activation, differentiation, and effector functions. The overall aim of our research is to identify disease-relevant mechanisms and to exploit these insights for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
A central feature of the laboratory of Dr. Kahlfuß is its strong translational research approach. The close integration of experimental immunology and clinical immunology enables the generation of research questions directly arising from patient care (bedside to bench) as well as the translation of experimental discoveries into clinically relevant applications (bench to bedside). Through the scientific supervision of the Clinical Immunology Outpatient Clinic by Dr. Kahlfuß, the laboratory provides a direct interface between clinical care and experimental research. This close connection facilitates the investigation of patient-centered research questions in well-characterized cohorts and enables the systematic validation of experimental findings in clinically relevant settings. The research program of the Kahlfuß Laboratory focuses particularly on elucidating the pathomechanisms underlying human immune-mediated diseases. Current areas of interest include autoimmune neurological disorders such as Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), immune dysregulation associated with Post-COVID syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), as well as immune regulation in malignant diseases. Beyond deciphering molecular disease mechanisms, a major goal is the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
In addition, the Kahlfuß Laboratory investigates the regulation of cellular immune responses with the aim of advancing current cell-based and immunotherapeutic approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on the metabolic and functional properties of T cells and other immune cell populations to improve the efficacy, persistence, and safety of immunotherapies and to develop novel precision medicine strategies. Methodologically, the laboratory combines state-of-the-art experimental technologies with advanced bioinformatic approaches. The research portfolio includes single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, multi-omics analyses, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, multiparametric flow cytometry, metabolomics, proteomics, and preclinical cellular and animal models. These experimental approaches are complemented by extensive bioinformatic expertise in the analysis of high-dimensional datasets, the development of tailored computational pipelines, and integrative network and pathway analyses. The combination of experimental immunology, clinical research, and computational biology enables a systems-level characterization of complex immune processes and provides the foundation for the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic concepts.
By integrating fundamental immunological research, clinical immunology, and modern bioinformatics, the Kahlfuß Laboratory aims to advance the understanding of human immune regulation and translate these discoveries into innovative diagnostic approaches as well as personalized immune and cellular therapies.
More information on the research of the Kahlfuss group is available on the own webpages of the Kahlfuss lab.