For a DFG-funded project of the TRR338 “LETSIMMUN” (Lymphocyte Engineering for Therapeutic Synthetic Immunity), the research group “Mucosal Immunology” headed by Prof. Daniel Kotlarz at the Comprehensive Childhood Research Center of the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital (CCRC Hauner) is now offering a position for a highly motivated PhD student.
The overall goal of our interdisciplinary and international research group is to explore molecular causes in children with life-threatening very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD). In particular, our laboratory focuses on decoding genetic and immune signatures of VEO-IBD by employing omics-based technologies and advanced preclinical models. Our studies will lead to new insights into disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment for children with this intractable disease.
The project will be conducted at the CCRC-Hauner (>130 interdisciplinary scientists) that has an outstanding track record in translational sciences and provides state-of-the-art core facilities (CF) (e.g., NGS, flow cytometry, microscopy). In parallel, we have a bioinformatics team at Helmholtz Munich that supports all projects leveraging advanced multi-omics, computational, and AI-driven infrastructures within the CHC, an emerging European hub for AI-driven precision medicine (>40 PIs). Our institutes follows the mission "Concept Pediatrics – the Child at the Center of Science" exemplifying the interaction of molecular research with patient-oriented clinical applications.
The successful candidate will use innovative viral and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome targeting approaches to generate human and mouse CAR Tregs and test their functionality, therapeutic potential, and safety in preclinical disease models, i.e. advanced co-culture models of human immune cells, intestinal organoids and mouse models. The candidate will be introduced into our innovative and advanced experimental pipeline of human disease models including CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, induced pluripotent stem cells, intestinal organoids and mouse models. The project is integrated in the DFG-funded TRR338 and successful candidates will benefit from the IRTG graduate program.
