Research in my group focuses on CD8-mediated and antibody-mediated pathogenic mechanisms in rare (epileptic) diseases such as Rasmussen encephalitis, Susac syndrome, Narcolepsy and the clinically defined antibody-associated encephalitides. The studies on Rasmussen encephalitis, and antibody-associated encephalitides are performed in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Christian Bien from the Epilepsy Centre of the Hospital Mara in Bielefeld, Germany. Within these different diseases we investigate innate immune cell and local glial cell cross-talk and how these local interactions lead to tissue injury and cell death. The study of human diseases is complemented by the study of these mechanisms in controlled animal models via an international network of collaborators such as the long-lasting cooperation with Prof. Dr. Roland Liblau (Purpan University Hospital) in Toulouse, France.
