Graft-versus-Host disease (GvHD) is still one of the most challenging and life-threatening complications after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Although GvHD is caused by allo-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes, the circumstances surrounding their activation, expansion and recruitment to target organs remain inadequately explained.

In several projects, we aim to investigate the roles of

• chemokines and their receptors,
• dendritic cell licensing,
• innate immune cells, 
• the microbiome

in the initiation and maintenance of acute GvHD. For this purpose, we perform in vivo and in vitro studies, as well as analyses in primary patient samples.