KFO 342 - Coordination Funds

Basic data for this project

Description

Severe systemic inflammation syndromes and sepsis mostly arise from infectious insults but may also be induced by non-infections stimuli. While the host immune system is generally beneficial, an overshooting and unregulated immune response can cause serious organ tissue injury. During systemic inflammation and sepsis, systemic hypotension, disturbed perfusion of the microcirculation, and direct tissue-toxicity caused by inflammatory immune reactions can occur and contribute to organ failure. If two or more vital organ systems fail (e.g. the lungs, liver and kidney), multi-organ failure occurs, a very critical condition associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The molecular mechanisms of organ damage during systemic inflammation and sepsis are incompletely understood. Importantly, no specific treatment strategy exists to efficiently prevent the development of multi-organ failure during systemic inflammation. The central goal of this Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is the identification and investigation of relevant molecular, immunological and cellular pathways involved in organ injury during systemic inflammation and sepsis, and the identification and investigation of therapeutic treatment strategies. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the detrimental effects of systemic inflammation-induced secondary injury to peripheral organs is of utmost importance and will play a key role in the experimental work of this CRU. A detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of systemic inflammation and sepsis is expected to lead to the development of new treatment approaches for patients suffering from systemic inflammatory syndromes and sepsis. The proposed CRU includes projects focusing on different organ systems which are conducted by principal investigators with exceptional, specific expertise in the fields of inflammation, cell biology, imaging, microbiology and clinical management of sepsis and organ failure. By combining individual projects addressing different aspects of sepsis and systemic inflammation into one CRU network we will identify distinct and shared disease mechanisms and will be able to develop new treatment approaches by promoting synergistic co-operations within the CRU.