„We seek to better understand the development and progression of neuroimmunological and neuroinfectious diseases with particular emphasis on multiple sclerosis to translate molecular findings into drug treatment and improve clinical care. In order to achieve this goal, we systematically study immunology, neurobiology and patient care using a wide methodological spectrum.“
Institute
The Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS) at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf was founded 2006 based on an initiative of the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung which intended to create a translational research institute for multiple sclerosis research. Committed to the mission to better understand the aetiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological diseases and to translate this knowledge into efficacious treatments. Besides cellular and molecular research, the INIMS also sets high standards in providing patient care.To achieve these goals, basic research is interlocked with clinical activities ensuring access to patients as well as setting up operative platforms for conducting clinical studies. The INIMS consists of two operational units: It integrates a (i) basic science institute located at the Centre for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH) with a (ii) clinical research platform located at the dedicated day hospital for patients with multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological diseases (outpatient clinic) affiliated to the Department of Neurology. Moreover, it closely cooperates with the Department of Neuroradiology for MRI studies. The INIMS basic science institute is equipped with state-of-the art cellular and molecular biology laboratories as well as in vivo facilities focussing on immunology and neurobiology research. The INIMS closely interacts with the Department of Neurology to assure continuity in inpatient and outpatient care of neuroimmunological patients (6,500 MS patients in database), biomaterial collection (multiple sclerosis biobanking with samples of more than 2,500 patients) and continuous medical education as well as teaching of students. The Department of Neuroradiology is equipped with two 3T MRI scanners for translational research and clinical care and provides a special infrastructure destined to multiple sclerosis diagnostics and research. Moreover, the Fraunhofer Institute IME SP operates a Biomarker and Discovery Biology platform located at the INIMS addressing biomarker development in multiple sclerosis and their treatment trials and collaborating with the INIMS in several projects.
The main scientific goals of the INIMS are:
- Translational research – to transform biology into effective therapeutic agents for neuroimmunological diseases
- to study the aetiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological and neuroinfectious diseases
- to investigate the immune system and the central nervous system and their interactions to understand mechanisms of immune cell dysregulation, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection
- to develop new drugs and behavioural interventions for multiple sclerosis patients and to test them in multiple sclerosis treatment trials
Open positions
PhD Student in Neuroimmunology
The advertised position is to be filled within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre 1328 „Adenine Nucleotides in Immunity and Infection“ funded by the German Research Foundation. The project focusses on the investigation of T cells and their signaling in connection with the pathogenesis of MS and its animal model (in collaboration with Prof. Viacheslav Nikolaev, UKE). The doctoral candidate will be member of the SFB Graduate programme. This enables structured doctoral supervision and includes an internationally oriented, university and non-university study programme. The ZMNH offers excellent research infrastructure and working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment located in beautiful, cosmopolitan Hamburg, Germany. Working language of the lab and institute is English.Read more
If you are interested in joining the INIMS, please send an email to Manuel Friese, and include your CV and a brief statement of why you are interested in our work. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Disclosure of Industry Relationships
We believe that public accountability is important for patients in order to decide which factors might have potentially influenced their medical care. Besides the science of medicine, patients need to be empowered to understand decisions and participate as equal partners in every discussion that affects their healthcare. Therefore, we feel that disclosing industry relationships is our duty to be accountable and socially responsible to those we treat in medicine.| Personal honoraria received in 2014: | |
| Friese | EUR 0 |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 2,000 (Merck Serono, Novartis) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2014: | |
| Alpinia Laudanum Institute of Phytopharmaceutical Sciences AG |
EUR 86,000 |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 102,646 |
| Genzyme GmbH | EUR 12,000 |
| Merck Serono GmbH | EUR 15,000 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 66,500 |
| TEVA GmbH | EUR 4,968 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2014: | |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 500 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2014: | |
| Bayer Vital | EUR 1,000 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 500 |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2014: | |
| Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles | EUR 18,443 |
| Personal honoraria received in 2015: | |
| Friese | EUR 865 (Novartis) |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 4,477 (Merck Serono) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2015: | |
| Alpinia Laudanum Institute of Phytopharmaceutical Sciences AG |
EUR 18,235 |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 111,894 |
| Genzyme GmbH | EUR 51,240 |
| Merck Serono GmbH | EUR 14,573 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 27,598 |
| TEVA GmbH | EUR 14,041 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2015: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2015: | |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 1,000 |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 476 |
| Personal honoraria received in 2016: | |
| Friese | EUR 0 |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 2,563 (Novartis, Teva) |
| Stellmann | EUR 2,850 (Biogen, Genzyme) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2016: | |
| Alpinia Laudanum Institute of Phytopharmaceutical Sciences AG |
EUR 22,000 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 20,000 |
| Genzyme GmbH | EUR 30,000 |
| Roche | EUR 237,000 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2016: | |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 1,500 |
| Genzyme GmbH | EUR 1,500 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 1,000 |
| Roche | EUR 500 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations/prizes in 2016: | |
| Biogen Idec | EUR 50,000 |
| Novartis Pharma GmbH | EUR 50,000 |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2016: | |
| Deutsche Rentenversicherung | EUR 147,687 |
| DMSG | EUR 45,000 |
| RIMS | EUR 60,000 |
| Personal honoraria received in 2017: | |
| Friese | EUR 0 |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 0 |
| Stellmann | EUR 0 |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2017: | |
| Roche | EUR 15,000 |
| Genzyme | EUR 270,000 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2017: | |
| Roche | EUR 120,000 |
| Genzyme | EUR 20,000 |
| Novartis | EUR 1,000 |
| Merck Serono | EUR 2,000 |
| Biogen | EUR 1,500 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2017: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2017: | |
| none | |
| Personal honoraria received in 2018: | |
| Friese | EUR 2,250 (Roche, Novartis) |
| Gold | EUR 4,400 (Almirall, Mylan) |
| Heesen | EUR 1,000 (Merck) |
| Stellmann | EUR 1,400 (Biogen, FOMF) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2018: | |
| Roche | EUR 10,000 |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2018: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2018: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2018: | |
| none | |
| Personal honoraria received in 2019: | |
| Friese | EUR 3,480 (Merck Serono GmbH, Biogen GmbH) |
| Gold | EUR 1,440 (Celgene) |
| Heesen | EUR 3,000 (Celgene) |
| Stellmann | EUR 1,600 (Alexion) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2019: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2019: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2019: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2019: | |
| none | |
| Personal honoraria received in 2020: | |
| Friese | EUR 9,388 (Merck Serono GmbH) |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 1,000 (Merck Serono GmbH) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2020: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2020: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2020: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2020: | |
| none | |
| Personal honoraria received in 2021: | |
| Friese | EUR 6,150 (Merck Serono, Lundbeck, Roche) |
| Gold | EUR 0 |
| Heesen | EUR 2,780 (Uni Dresden, RG Ärzte-Fortbildung, Roche podcast, Diaplan, Merck Serono GmbH) |
| Contributions from industry partners in clinical trials in 2021: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of sponsorship in 2021: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from industry partners as part of donations in 2021: | |
| none | |
| Contributions from non-profit organizations in 2021: | |
| none | |