Advanced biological therapy and biomarker research (Theranostics)
I’m a principle investigator at the department of Rheumatology and my group is dedicated to develop advanced biological therapies and we recognize that biomarker research is inevitable to reach personalized therapy for arthritis. I’m especially interested in fostering anti-inflammatory feedback mechanisms to enhance body’s own defense systems to stop disease. We study the biology of Tyro Axl Mertk (TAM) receptors, a homeostatic regulatory system for efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Their ligands Gas6 and protein-S act as pleiotropic inhibitors of the innate inflammatory – and immune response. We also examine the role of exosomes, extracellular vesicles containing immunoregulatory microRNAs, in intercellular communication.
Our aim is to translate findings in basic science to applications in diagnostics and treatment of human disease. For this, we develop gene therapy for disease-regulated expression of biologicals and modify exosomes to be used as safe and versatile miRNA drug delivery tools. Imperative for our research is the availability of viable human articular tissues and for that we develop novel cryopreservation techniques.
