In inflammation, location matters

Coordinators: S. Saalfeld (CAU), M. Liebecke (CAU), M. Hoffmann (UzL), P. Rosenstiel (CAU)

Cells do not act in isolation. Where they are located within a tissue, their molecular characteristics and the cells surrounding them can influence how inflammation develops. Conventional molecular analyses often lose this spatial context.

TI-3 uses spatial omics and advanced imaging to study cells and molecular processes directly within diseased tissue and organs. We will investigate molecular patterns in different tissue compartments and the relationships between neighbouring cells, including signatures that may precede disease flares. Patterns found in patients will also be compared with those in preclinical models.

The aim is to identify spatially confined disease trajectories and the underlying mechanisms that could provide new targets for therapy. Artificial intelligence will be used to develop quantitative scores from OMICS and histological input data that could serve as new endpoints in clinical studies.