Research
Prof. Dr. med. P. Villiger und Dr. F. Förger
Topic: Pregnancy and autoimmune diseases
(emeritus: Prof. Monika Oestensen)
This research group studying basic and clinical questions of pregnancy and autoimmune diseases was formed in 1999. With the help of the SNF, the Senta Herrman Stiftung, Olga Mayenfisch Stiftung, Käthe-Zingg Schwichtenberg Stiftung, Abbott Grant and research funds of the RIA we systematically analyzed and answered several questions of immune modulation by human pregnancy. The publications listed below give you a short overview about our fruitful activities and collaborations.
Our group works in the laboratory “Experimental Rheumatology” of our Department. It is part of the Department of Clinical Research (DKF) of the University of Bern. Thus, all methods for a competitive research are at our hands.
Positions:
We are looking for:
Young students with a genuine interest for basic and/or clinical research who want to learn and/or develop methods and plan to stay for at least 6 months.
We offer:
Supervised learning of a wide variety of laboratory methods; participation at running research projects; learning to write proposals, manuscripts, to present data at regular (weekly) progress meetings and at national as well as international conferences; salary according to University (Master) or SNF (PHD student) regulations; coverage of running lab costs (12’000sfr/year); last but not least: having fun at doing research.
For further information, mail to: Frauke.Foerger@insel.ch; and to Peter.Villiger@insel.ch
Publications
Prof.Dr.med.M.Seitz, Richard K. Kamgang, Deepak Balani
Topic: Osteoclastogenesis in chronic inflammation
This research group is studying the role of osteoclastogenic cytokines in inflammatory bone loss. By means of therapeutic clinical intervention with monoclonal TNFa antibodies in disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the rebalance of the disrupted equilibrium between bone formation and bone resorption is studied in terms of the regulation of osteoclast precursor cell (OCP) immunophenotype by FACS analysis and bone resorption on dentin wavers. In close collaboration with other research groups on the campus we also study mechanistically the anti-osteoclastogenic effect of anti-TNFa treatment in terms of apoptosis-induction and modification of cell trafficking in OCPs and in terms of OCP/T-cell and osteoblast/osteoclast interaction upon distinct cytokine milieus both in humans and in mice.
Our research is embedded in the laboratory of ‘Experimental Rheumatology’ of our Department and is also based on close collaborations with other research groups within the Department of Clinical Research (DKF).
For further information, mail to: michael.seitz@insel.ch
Prof. Dr. nat. B. Trueb
Topic: Growth factor receptors
The group of Prof. Trueb is investigating the effects of a novel growth factor receptor, termed FGFRL1, which is primarily expressed in cartilage and muscles. This receptor interacts with morphogens of the FGF family and stimulates the cells to differentiate and to fuse. Cell-cell fusion is an important biological process that is involved in the formation of bones (fusion of macrophages to osteoclasts) and skeletal muscles (fusion of myoblast to myotubes). Studies with laboratory animals have demonstrated that knock-out mice lacking the novel receptor die at birth because they do not form a functional diaphragm muscle. A patient with a frame-shift mutation in the novel receptor gene presents with craniosynostosis and radio-ulnar synostosis. It is the goal of our research to unravel the working mechanism of the novel receptor in order to find therapeutic ways to help such patients.
Our research efforts are supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Foundation for Research on Muscular Diseases.
Klinische Studien aktuelle Studienliste
RIA Lab joint meeting
- RIA Rheumatology lab joint with group Beat Trüb and Werner Pichler (Allergology)
