Working group Volk
The group conducts research in the field of translational research and is working on the implementation of novel approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of immunological diseases.
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Translational Research
The spectrum ranges from the development of biomarkers for the monitoring of new therapeutics to proof-of-concept trials and investigator-initiated trials (phase I / II) to test innovative immunotherapeutic approaches that are based on new pathogenetic findings.
In addition to close networking with the other research groups within the institute, there is intensive cooperation with the clinical partners, in particular with the interdisciplinary clinical research groups located at the institute (nephrology / transplantation medicine, intensive care medicine, dermatology) as well as with biotech companies, clinical research organizations (CRO Charité, Parexel) and the pharmaceutical industry (Bayer-Schering Pharma, Biogen, Novartis, Nycomed, Roche, Johnson / Johnson, etc.).
Funding
- European Union – Horizon 2020 Large Scale Research Initiative “RESTORE” – “RESTORE Health by Advanced Therapies (Advanced Medicinal Products and Biologized Medical Devices – ALL for Advanced Therapies – with Passion – For Patients”, 2019-2020, Coordinator
- European Union – Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action “RESHAPE” – “Reshaping undesired Inflammation in challenged Tissue Homeostasis by Next-Generation regulatory T cell (Treg) Approaches – from Advanced Technology Development to First-in-Human Trials”, 2019-2022, Work package leader WP5 “Biomarker platform to monitor therapy response to next-generation Treg approches”
- European Union – Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action “HIPGEN” – “Placenta Expanded Adherent Stromal Cells (PLX-PAD) As An Innovative Therapy For Improving Recovery And Survival Following Hip Fracture Arthroplasty – HIPGEN, a multicenter Phase III trial”, 2018-2021, WP3 “Biomarker analysis of PLX-PAD treated HIPGEN patients” (Co-PI)
- European Union – Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action “PACE” – “A multicenter phase IIb study using HLA-unmatched allogeneic placenta-derived stromal cells (PLX-PAD) for treatment of severe critical limb ischemia accompanied by mechanistic studies”, 2017-2020, Coordinator
- European Union – Collaborative Project “BioCog” – “Biomarker Development for Postoperative Cognitive Impairment in Elderly”, 2014-2019, Work package 3 “Molecular Biomarkers”
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – Translational Center „Berlin-Brandenburger Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT)“, 2006-2019, Director
- European Union - Collaborative Project „BIO-DrIM“ – “Personalized minimization of immunosuppression after solid organ transplantation by biomarker-driven stratification of patients to improve long-term outcome and health-economic data of transplantation“, 2012-2018, Work package leader „Biomarker analyses, Data management & Biostatistics, Health-economic analyses and IVD development”
- European Union - Collaborative Project „The One Study“ - A Unified Approach of Evaluating Cellular Immunotherapy in Solid Organ Transplantation“, 2010-2017, WP 4 „Trial evaluation“, TP: „Immune monitoring“
- German Research Foundation (DFG), SFB-TR36 „ Principles and application of adoptive T-cell therapy“, 2006-2018, P: „CMV-specific T cell therapy“ (PI)
- German Research Foundation (DFG), SFB650 „Cellular approaches to suppress unwanted immune responses - From Bench to Bedside", 2005-2016, Speaker and PI Z-Project
- Europäische Union – Integrated Project „RISET“ – „Reprogramming of Tolerance“, 2005-2010, Workpackage leader „Tolerance marker“ (PI)
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – Collaborative Project „Regulatory T cells“, 2005-2008, P: „Human regulatory T cells“ (PI)
- Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) – Collaborative Project „Development of a kit for the monitoring of kidney transplant patients“, 2006-2008, P: „Studies on patient samples“ (PI)
- > 10 projects with project partners from the industry
Techniques & services
- Accredited Immunoassays (Multi-parameter flow cytometry – FACscalibur, LSR-II)
- Establishment / validation of biomarkers, including preclinical models
- Biomarker monitoring in phase I/II/III-studies
- Quantitative RT-PCR
- ELISA, Immulite, Beadsarrays (CBA, Luminex)
- Cell culture
- Cell separation (MACS, FACS)