The Gütig lab uses analytical and numerical modeling techniques to identify the computational principles underlying spike based information processing and learning in central nervous systems and to understand how these principles are implemented by biological processes. Specifically, the lab focuses on the role of action potential timing in sensory…

Chronic low back pain is a significant public health problem in industrialized society. The intact spine carries the upper body and external loads, allows motion in a physiological range and protects the spinal cord. These different demands necessitate a high degree of complexity with various sources for disorders and pain. The BIH - Julius Wolff…

Our motivation is to address fundamental biological questions of human immunology and translate them into innovative therapies. In this respect, the core interest of our laboratory lies in the discovery of new applications of antibodies and B cells to treat and prevent challenging human diseases.

The Medical Omics lab aims to improve healthcare and basic research by providing artificial intelligence-driven tools for the analysis of large biomedical datasets. For comprehensive insights in disease entities, we aim to include multiple layers of data, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, methylomics data and medical imaging. In close…

The Sawitzki lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of immune cell activation and tolerance induction, in order to better understand why components of the immune response themselves become a trigger of destructive inflammatory reactions, like e.g. in the context of autoimmune diseases, rejection reactions after organ transplantation or COVID19…

Common metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes have both environmental and genetic causes. We now know that many sections of the genome influence the risk of weight gain or adverse fat distribution, in addition to the important roles played by lack of physical activity and excessive intake of high-calorie foods.…

Defects in musculoskeletal tissues, e.g. in consequence of a trauma, do not always heal spontaneously but require surgical intervention. Biomaterials implanted into the defect region have to potential to support the healing process. We investigate the interaction between cells, their surrounding extracellular matrix and biomaterials for the…

Both mechanical and biological processes work together to determine the outcome of musculoskeletal regeneration. Whilst many of the biological factors have been identified and some even brought into clinical practice (BMP's, PDGF, IGF, etc.), the impact of the mechanical environment and the role of the immune system are only recently taken into…

Not only the DNA sequence – our genome – but also the 3D structure of our genome – the 'epi-genome' – is essential in determining the type and function of a cell. That's why the analysis of the epigenome facilitates deep insights into the developmental history of a cell and its current gene expression profile, but also allows deductions on its…