The intestinal epithelium provides an essential selective barrier that permits passage of water, ions and nutrients, while limiting contact with harmful environmental toxins and preventing microbial contamination of interstitial tissues. Loss of intestinal barrier function is correlated with several autoimmune diseases. The main objective of the IEB group is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the interactions between intestinal epithelial barrier and immune cells in autoimmune diseases, in particular the interactions between dendritic cells and intestinal enterocytes. To this end, studies will involve use of conventional and high-throughput metagenomics, generation of intestinal organoids from murine and human subjects, isolation of immune cells and establishing a 3 dimensional In-vitro co-culture model to observe the intestinal epithelial barrier-immune cells interactions. Our final goal is to identify novel biomarkers and develop new therapeutic targets for intestinal barrier loss and autoimmune diseases that will improve patient outcomes.

• Mentors
  • Dr. Daigen Xu
    Associate Director, TIP Immunology, EMD Serono (Industry mentor)
  • Dr. Philipp Haselmayer
    Associate Director TIP-Immunology, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (Industry mentor)
  • Prof. Dr. Christoph Becker
    Head of Department Mucosal Immune Regulation and Intestinal Cell Biology, University Hospital Erlangen, Germany (Academic mentor)