Funding from the DFGNew Infection Research Group

27 September 2024, by Newsroom editorial office

Photo: UKE

Prof. Dr. Manuel A. Friese is the spokesperson of the new DFG research group “NeuroFlame.”

“NeuroFlame” is one of 7 new research groups to receive funding from the German Research Foundation over the next 4 years. The researchers under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Manuel A. Friese will investigate how chronic inflammation is impacting nerve cell function and survival. For this undertaking the group will receive roughly €6 million.

Chronic inflammation in the central nervous system, so-called neuroinflammation, plays a major role in various diseases. This not only affects the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, but also of neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular diseases and traumatic brain injuries. No previous study has comprehensively examined how chronic inflammation affects the function and survival of nerve cells.

This forms the starting point of the research group “NeuroFlame–Defence and Demise of Inflamed Neurons” headed by Prof. Dr. Manuel A. Friese, professor of translational neuroimmunology at the Faculty of Medicine and director of the Institute for Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). Altogether 8 UKE researchers are part of the group collaborating with researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Heidelberg University, the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) at the University of Göttingen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Leibniz-Forschungsinstituts für Molekulare Pharmakologie in Berlin (FMP), and Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden.

A special focus will be on nerve cell defence tactics as well as on identifiable damage caused by neuroinflammatory diseases. The researchers aim to better understand neuroinflammatory interaction and mechanisms to be able to develop improved neuroprotective treatments.

Thirty-nine million euros for 7 new research groups

“NeuroFlame” is one of 7 new research groups to receive funding from the German Research Foundation over the next 4 years. Overall, funding is available for up to 8 years. The entire funding amount of roughly €39 million for the new research groups also includes a 22 percent program lump sum. This funding format enables researchers to address current pressing issues in their field and to establish innovative new directions in research. Clinical research groups like “NeuroFlame” also focus strongly on linking research to clinical practice.