Neuro- and Tumorimmunology: From an evolutionary perspective, the complex mammalian immune system developed to combat microbial threats. The flip side of this protective system is however that aberrant and deregulated immune responses can lead to immune-mediated pathologies as seen in autoimmune diseases. Our research aims to understand the development of tissue-specific autoimmunity in particular in the context of interactions of the nervous system with the immune system. Related to our studies of autoimmunity (an undesired process) we expanded our interest to apply our tool-set and expertise to study the impact of immunity to combat cancer (a desired process). Our main research interests can be categorized as such:

• Cytokine networks in autoimmune inflammatory disease with a focus on in vivo modeling of multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, graft-versus host disease
• Development and maintenance of the myeloid phagocyte system in steady state and inflammation
• Immune tolerance and lymphoid development
• Tumorimmunology: specifically the interaction of immune cells with cancer cells and therapeutic interventions to mount immune responses against tumors