Spatially resolved immune checkpoints in compartmentalized muscle and brain inflammation

Inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and inclusion body myositis (IBM) involve complex immune responses at critical tissue interfaces. This project leverages advanced spatial omics tools to dissect innate immune checkpoints within compartmentalized inflammation. By focusing on border areas, such as immune cell-muscle fiber interfaces in IBM or iron-rich lesion rims in MS, we aim to uncover key regulatory mechanisms governing local immune interactions. Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex protein imaging will be applied to map immune cell populations and checkpoint molecules with high spatial resolution. Insights from this research may reveal novel therapeutic targets for modulating chronic inflammation in muscle and brain diseases. The project will be supervised by Prof. Lucas Schirmer (University Hospital Mannheim).

Please send your application to

lucas.schirmer@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
martin.schneider@medma.uni-heidelberg.de