Immune system and tissue radiobiology

Group leader: Prof. Dr. Claudia Fournier

Whilst  cancer is generally considered the main late consequence of radiation exposure, recent studies focus on the role of inflammation, a common side effect in radiotherapy and also a promoter in the progression of many cancers. However, radiation at low doses has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is indeed exploited in the therapy of chronic inflammatory diseases. In recent activities, our group focuses on the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response following exposure to densely (heavy ions and a-particles) vs. sparsely (X-rays) ionizing radiation.

Collaborations

  • TU Darmstadt (Prof. P. Laube, Prof. G. Thiel, Prof. C. Cardoso, Prof. M. Löbrich, PD Dr. T. Meckel, Dr. M. Saul)
  • Darmstadt Clinic (PD Dr. M. Podda, M. Kovacs)
  • Forschungszentrum Jülich (Dr. R. Kriehuber)
  • University of Erlangen (Dr. B. Frey, Prof. Dr. U. Gaipl)
  • University of Frankfurt am Main (Prof. F. Rödel, Prof. C. Rödel, Prof. E. Ullrich, Prof. H. Bönig)
  • University of Leipzig, Institute of Anatomy (Prof. Ingo Bechmann, Dr. Sonja Kallendrusch)
  • University of Rostock (S. Freiesleben)
  • University of Ulm (Prof. Dr. L. Wiesmüller, PD Dr. P. Fischer-Posovsky)
  • TRON, Mainz (Dr. F. Vascotto, Dr. N. Salomon)
  • Agaplesion Markus Hospital, Clinic for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (Prof. S. Rehart)
  • Medical Practice for Cardiology, Bad Steben (Dr. G. Klein)
  • Gastein Research Institute (FOI), Austria (Dr. M. Gaisberger)
  • University of Caen, France (Dr. Carine Laurent, Francois Sichel)
  • NIRS-QST, Chiba, Japan (Dr. T. Shimokawa)
  • University of Groningen, Netherlands (Prof. R. Coppes, Dr. Peter van Luijk)
  • Stanford Medicine, Stanford, USA (Prof. M. Diehn)
  • University Parthenope, Napoli, Italy (Dr. P. Simoniello)
  • iThemba LABS, South Africa (Prof. Newman, Dr. Van de Voorde)
  • Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA (Prof. S. Formenti, Prof. S. Demaria)

Funding

  • BMBF, joint research project GREWIS-alpha Genetische Risiken und entzündungshemmende Wirkung von dicht-ionisierender alpha-Strahlung, Teilprojekt A. Funding code 02NUK050A, 01/08/2017 - 31/01/2023
  • BMBF, joint research project GREWIS Genetische Risiken und entzündungshemmende Wirkung von dicht-ionisierender Strahlung: Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Radon in Zell- und Tier-Modellen und in Radon-Patienten; Teilprojekt A. Funding code 02NUK017A, 01/02/2012 - 31/07/2018
  • BMWi, Einfluss von Schwerelosigkeit und Strahlenexposition auf Genomstabilität und Alterungsprozesse in menschlichen hämatopoetischen Stamm- und Progenitorzellen (GestAlt_HSPC). Funding code 50WB1716, 01/09/2017 - 31/05/2022
  • BMWi, Wirkung von (Weltraum-)Strahlung auf Mikroglia und Blutgefäße in organotypischen Hippocampus- Slicekulturen (space_brain). Funding code 50WB1837, 01/10/2018 - 29/02/2020
  • BMWi, Einfluss von physikalischen und biologischen Maßnahmen auf Strahlungs-induzierte Veränderungen des zentralen Nervensystems (ZNS) in Mäusen (space_PRICE). Funding code 50WB2025, 01/03/2020 - 28/02/2023
  • EURADON - European Association radon spas eV, project number 01/2019, 2019-2021
  • EURADON - European Association radon spas eV, project number 02/2016, 2016-2018
  • FOI Bad Gastein, project funding code FOI-15/08-031WIE, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2016
  • ESA/DLR, Fidelity of DNA double-strand break repair, manifestation of genetic instabilities and carcinogenesis risk in irradiated human hematopoietic stem cells, project funding code 50WB1225, 01/04/2012 - 30/06/2015
  • DFG, GRK1657 (Graduate College: Molecular and cellular responses to ionizing Radiation), 01/04/2011 - 31/03/2017
  • HGS-HIRe (Helmholtz Graduate School for Hadron and Ion Research)

Group members

  • Group leader:
    Prof. Dr. Claudia Fournier
  • Research scientists:
    Dr. Alexander Helm
    Dr. Sylvie Lerchl
    Dr. Usama Dabbas
     
  • PhD-Students:
    Cristina Totis
    Annika Hinrichs
    Gaia Volpi
     
  • Scientific assistant:
    Svetlana Ktitareva
     
  • Technical assistants:
    Aylin Benzer
    Dr. Daniela Kraft

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