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Research

My core research interests are molecular mechanisms of cytokine regulation and their effects on disease expression in the spectrum from autoinflammation to autoimmunity. Special foci include the autoinflammatory bone disease chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), the mixed-pattern disease psoriasis/psoriatic JIA, and the "prototypical autoimmune" disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). I am actively involved with consensus treatment plan initiatives of the North American CARRA group (CNO) and treat to target (T2T) initiatives of the German Society of Pediatric Rheumatology (GKJR) (SLE, systemic JIA, CNO). Since 2020, I am co-chair (Europe) of the OMERACT CNO/SAHOP special interest group that aims to develop outcome measures for clinical trials.
My work spans the translational spectrum from "early" laboratory research to the bedside and back. Research acivity of my group aims at translating knowledge from small patient cohorts, daily clinical experience, and laboratory studies into routine patient care.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis

Examining autoinflammatory mechanisms in CNO, my group identified pro-inflammatory phenotypes of monocytes as central players in disease pathophysiology. We’ve focused on dysregulated cytokine responses of monocytes promoting bone inflammation through inflammasome activation. Our findings explain beneficial effects of current treatment options in CNO.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a mixed-pattern disorder combining features from autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. My research group is interested in the contribution and phenotypes of TCR+CD3+CD4-CD8- (so-called double negative, DN) T cells in health and disease. Applying state-of-the-art technology, we identified effector DN T cells as major contributors to pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the skin of patients with psoriasis. After the definition of T cell phenotypes within the DN T cell compartment, we are aiming to i) define signature cytokine expression patterns in effector DN T cells in health and disease, and ii) determine molecular mechanisms orchestrating DN T cell lineage determination.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

SLE is a largely T cell-mediated autoimmune disorder that can affect most organs of the human body. In my laboratory, we are investigating transcription factor networks contributing to epigenetic alterations and effector T cell phenotype generation in SLE. We hope that our work will contribute to novel therapeutic options targeting pathological effector T cell responses in SLE and other autoimmune disorders.

Research grants

Biomarker signatures for the diagnosis of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) – a pilot study

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK)

January 2022 - June 2024

Understanding immune cell:tissue interactions in lupus nephritis: A pathway to target-directed interventions

MERCK LTD (UK)

November 2023 - October 2025

Establishing microbiota-host interactions in seronegative inflammatory arthritis across age groups

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

June 2023 - May 2024

Do Salivary Proteins Predict Causes of Oral Ulceration in Children

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK)

September 2022 - August 2025

DETECTIVE: Deciphering the molecular pathophysiology of CNO towards individualized treatment

GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN NHS FOUNDATION (UK)

April 2023 - March 2024

Micro-RNAs as biomarkers and new molecular targets in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK)

October 2021 - September 2022

Are yeasts the missing link between the vaginal bacteria and preterm birth?

THE ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (UK)

May 2023 - April 2025

PAtient STratification and Individualized trEatment in Systemic sclerosis (PASTIES)

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY (UK), RAYNAUD'S & SCLERODERMA ASSOCIATION (UK)

November 2022 - December 2025

Systematic Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis

FUNDING AUTO IMMUNE RESEARCH (UK)

July 2018 - December 2019

Genetic factors in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE): future guides for individualized treatment

LUPUS UK (UK)

August 2018 - June 2021

Molecular mechanisms of CNO

MICHAEL DAVIE RESEARCH FOUNDATION (UK)

October 2018 - September 2021

Investigating Serum Protein Expression in Patients with Juvenile Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

FUNDING AUTO IMMUNE RESEARCH (UK)

July 2018 - December 2019

    Research collaborations

    Paul McNamara

    Molecular mechanisms of hyperinflammation in paediatric and adult COVID-19

    Neill Liptrott

    Molecular mechanisms of hyperinflammation in paediatric and adult COVID-19

    Professor Polly Ferguson

    University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Projects on CNO pathophysiology and treatment

    Professor Esteban Ballestar, PhD

    Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain

    Epigenetic events in SLE and psoriasis

    Professor George Tsokos, MD

    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvar Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Epigenetic mechanisms in SLE

    PD Sigrun Hofmann, MD, PhD

    Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Involvement of aberrant inflammasome activation in CNO; mechanisms of effector T cell generation in psoriasis

    Professor Angela Roesen-Wolff, MD, PhD

    Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Involvement of aberrant inflammasome activation in autoinflammatory conditions