At the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma Immunology (ITI) at Ulm University Medical Center, we investigate the temporal and spatial response to danger-associated diseases with a focus on trauma and multiple organ failure. The highly motivated ITI team collaborates with international experts to decipher the disease-causing mechanisms from the molecular level to the organ level. A particular research interest lies in the development and evaluation of surgical and immunological treatment concepts to enhance cellular and organ function, as well as improve the patients' quality of life.

A severe trauma or extensive surgery triggers the entire organism into a state of high danger alertness. The damaged tissue and bacteria subsequently release "danger molecules," posing a significant challenge to the body's immunology (defence systems). The partially overwhelming and dysfunctional molecular response to trauma manifests clinically as systemic inflammation, potentially leading to severe complications. These problems can disrupt tissue-blood barriers, result in bloodstream infection (sepsis), coagulation disorders, organ dysfunction, or even multiple organ failure with high mortality rates. The involved immuno-pathophysiological principles are extraordinarily complex and still largely unexplored. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is of utmost importance to improve the survival rate of severely injured individuals and reduce long-term consequences of injuries.