Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Clinical research at Universitaetsklinikum Erlangen AöR includes systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and progressive systemic autoimmune disease resistant to B cell depletion. Additional work covers psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and early rheumatoid arthritis.
- CAR-T cell therapy for refractory autoimmune disease
- JAK inhibition in inflammatory joint disease
- Interleukin-targeted therapy in psoriatic arthritis
- Immunosuppressive tapering in stable disease control
The sponsor also studies enthesitis and pain processing in inflammatory arthritis, with interest in treatment-resistant immune-mediated conditions.
Gastrointestinal and transplant-related immune disease
Research activity extends to ulcerative colitis and chronic graft-versus-host disease, reflecting a focus on immune regulation in gastrointestinal inflammation and post-transplant complications.
- Regulatory T-cell therapy in ulcerative colitis
- Cell-based immunotherapy for chronic GvHD
- Clinical remission in inflammatory bowel disease
These studies address immune-mediated tissue injury and refractory disease states in both intestinal and transplant settings.
Renal and cardiovascular medicine
The sponsor funds studies in chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation, cardiovascular disease, and valvular disease, including kidney injury risk in the context of cardiac procedures.
- Acute kidney injury prevention
- Renal oxidative stress and inflammation
- Post-transplant renal morphology
- Cardiorenal complications in surgical care
Additional interest includes finerenone and dapagliflozin in renal injury pathways, alongside mechanisms relevant to vascular and transplant-associated kidney damage.
Oncology and melanoma
In oncology, the clinical portfolio includes melanoma with emphasis on treatment-resistant metastatic disease and immune response after prior checkpoint inhibition.
- Immunotherapy rechallenge in metastatic melanoma
- Chemo-immunotherapy sequencing
- Tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blockade
These studies are centered on improving outcomes in advanced skin cancer with limited response to existing immunotherapies.
Maternal-fetal and metabolic disease
The sponsor also investigates fetal developmental disorder involving the left side of the heart, as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus, linking obstetric and metabolic research with organ-specific disease management.
- Materno-fetal oxygen therapy for congenital heart development
- Fetal cardiology
- Metabolic and renal risk in diabetes
These areas reflect interest in prenatal cardiac development and metabolic conditions with renal and vascular relevance.


