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Helmholtz Munich

Environmental Health Center Lung Health and Immunity

Many environmentally triggered lung diseases are still considered incurable. We at the Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI) explore the immunological mechanisms underlying chronic lung diseases such as COPD, lung fibrosis, asthma, lung cancer and the complications following lung transplantation. We want to translate our findings into preventative and therapeutic approaches for patients.

Many environmentally triggered lung diseases are still considered incurable. We explore the immunological mechanisms underlying chronic lung diseases such as COPD, lung fibrosis, asthma, lung cancer and the complications following lung transplantation. We want to translate our findings into preventative and therapeutic approaches for patients.

Our Research Areas

lhi-researchgroup-1
Helmholtz Munich
Lead: Isis Fernandez

Immunometabolic Reprogramming

The investigation of structural-immune and immune-immune cell interaction, reprogramming and the pulmonary epimmunome facilitates a better understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary diseases. It will lead us to immune-driven target identification and prioritization to broaden the therapeutic landscape in chronic lung diseases.

Research Groups - 3
Helmholtz Munich
Lead: Theodore S. Kapellos

Systems Pulmonology

Our disease area envisions to advance the understanding and treatment of pulmonary diseases by utilizing and developing cutting-edge statistical and systems tools. Our focus on translational models allows us to validate findings from innovative tools in patient biomaterial and bridge scales from cells to tissue niches and organs, ensuring translational impact on biomarkers and diagnostics.

Helmholtz Munich | LHI
Lead: Tobias Stöger

Environmental Barrier Immunity

We investigate the cellular pathways maintaining the functionality of the respiratory barrier and how tissue homeostasis gets affected by environmental challenges. Our focus has been on exposure scenarios of cigarette smoke and combustion, derived or engineered nanoparticles and their contribution to the development of chronic lung diseases.

Our Labs

lhi-burgstaller-lab-stage-1920x823
Helmholtz Munich
Burgstaller Lab

Immunotherapeutic Technologies

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Cancer cell attacking another cell
Forrest - stock.adobe.com
Diefenbacher Lab

Experimental Immuno-Oncology

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bronchiolus_querschnitt_helmholtz_1920x640px
Helmholtz Munich
Fernandez Lab

Immune networks in chronic lung diseases

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Human lung model with a of disease, generative Ai
Mustafa - stock.adobe.com, generative AI
Funk Lab

Ageing & Environmental stress in lung disease

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3d rendering of Human cell
Anusorn - stock.adobe.com
Kapellos Lab

Immunoregulation in obstructive respiratory diseases

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bronchoalveolar lavage gerckens mümmler
Helmholtz Munich | Gerckens/Mümmler
Gerckens/Mümmler Lab

Lung Transplantation: Therapeutic Immunology

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lehmann_aging_macrophages_630x473px
Helmholtz Munich
AdobeStock_320367062.jpeg
Surasak - stock.adobe.com
LHI, Markus Rehberg
Rehberg Lab

Intravital microscopy of barrier immunity

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schmid_adobeStock-169744287_XL_7activestudio
7activestudio - stock.adobe.com
Schmid Lab

Pulmonary Aerosol Delivery

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Helmholtz Munich | Doris Hammerschmidt
Stöger Lab

Dynamics of Pulmonary Inflammation

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Healthy Human Lungs 2d illustration
jijomathai - stock.adobe.com
Strobl Lab

B cell development and activation

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Graphic illustration of alveoli with COPD
Helmholtz Munich | Angelika Kramer Grafik Design
Yildirim/Conlon Lab

Immunopathology of COPD

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lhi-bioArchive-blutproben-1920x823
Helmholtz Munich | Doris Hammerschmidt
©Michael Haggenmueller

Scientists at LHI

Diefenbacher_Markus_LHI_Portrait

Prof. Dr. Markus Diefenbacher

Group Leader
Isis Fernandez Mitarbeiterfoto LHI

Dr. Isis E. Fernandez

Team Leader
Frankenberger_Marion_LHI_FREI

Dr. Marion Frankenberger

Deputy Director LHI/Head of CPC-M bioArchive View profile
Portrait Michael Gerckens LHI

Dr. Michael Gerckens

Group Leader / Clinician Scientist
Malte Lücken LHI

Dr. Malte Lücken

Group Leader
Mümmler_Carlo_Portrait

Dr. Carlo Mümmler

Group Leader / Clinician Scientist

Dr. Otmar Schmid

Team Leader
Strobl_Lothar_Portrait

Lothar J. Strobl

Group Leader
Portrait Roxana Wasnick LHI

Dr. Roxana Wasnick

Scientific Management

Contact

Zhu_Jiangnigna_Portrait

Jiangningna Zhu

Assistant of the Director

Director

Portraet-Ali-Oender-Yildirim_freigestellt

Prof. Dr. Ali Önder Yildirim

Director & Team Leader

Deputy Director

Frankenberger_Marion_LHI_FREI

Dr. Marion Frankenberger

Deputy Director LHI/Head of CPC-M bioArchive

Management

Franziska Hauptkorn Mitarbeiterbild LHI

Franziska Hauptkorn

Head of Operations Management

Scientific Management

Portrait Roxana Wasnick LHI

Dr. Roxana Wasnick

Scientific Management

Locations/How to reach us

Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI)

Helmholtz Zentrum München
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)

Ingolstädter Landstraße 1,
D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany

Telephone: +49 89 3187-3071
E-Mail: info-lhi@helmholtz-munich.de

by Public Transport

From Airport Munich:

  • S1 to station "Feldmoching", from there with taxi or U2 to station "Am Hart" and from there bus 294/295 (direction Garching-Hochbrück) to station "Helmholtz Zentrum München"
  • Or: S8 to main railway station (Hauptbahnhof), from there U2 to station "Am Hart", then bus 294/295 (direction Garching-Hochbrück) to station "Helmholtz Zentrum München"
  • Taxi via Highway Deggendorf-München, direction Stuttgart, exit Neuherberg, 30 min to the Helmholtz Zentrum München (approx. 40.- to 50.- EUR).

From Munich main station (Hauptbahnhof):

U2 to station "Am Hart", then bus 294 (Garching-Hochbrück, runs every 20 min - hourly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) or bus 295 to station "Neuherberg, Helmholtz-Zentrum"

By Car:

City Center - Neuherberg

Ludwigstrasse - Leopoldstrasse - Ingolstädter Strasse - continuation Ingolstädter Landstrasse, the Helmholtz Zentrum München on the right, approximately 800 m after city boundary, total distance from city centre about 12 km. Taxi from city centre to the Helmholtz Zentrum München about 30 min (fare approx. 20 EUR).

Highways

Nürnberg - München: Route A 99, direction Stuttgart, first exit Neuherberg, from here follow signs (400 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Stuttgart - München: Route A 99, direction Salzburg, exit Neuherberg, at traffic light turn right (300 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Salzburg - München: Route A 99, direction Stuttgart, exit Neuherberg, from here follow signs (400 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

LHI/CPC (Comprehensive Pneumology Center)
Max-Lebsche-Platz 31
81377 München, Germany

By public transport:

From Munich City Center:

  • Subway U6 (U-Bahn-Linie 6) to Klinikum Großhadern (terminal stop), then walk across the parking lot to Max-Lebsche Platz 31.
  • Or busses 56 (station Max-Lebsche-Platz), 266, 269 (station Klinikum Großhadern) 

From Airport Munich:

  • S 8 (Herrsching) - change at Marienplatz for U6 (U-Bahn-Linie 6) to Klinikum Großhadern (terminal stop)

Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI)

Helmholtz Zentrum München
Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)

Ingolstädter Landstraße 1,
D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany

Telephone: +49 89 3187-3071
E-Mail: info-lhi@helmholtz-munich.de

by Public Transport

From Airport Munich:

  • S1 to station "Feldmoching", from there with taxi or U2 to station "Am Hart" and from there bus 294/295 (direction Garching-Hochbrück) to station "Helmholtz Zentrum München"
  • Or: S8 to main railway station (Hauptbahnhof), from there U2 to station "Am Hart", then bus 294/295 (direction Garching-Hochbrück) to station "Helmholtz Zentrum München"
  • Taxi via Highway Deggendorf-München, direction Stuttgart, exit Neuherberg, 30 min to the Helmholtz Zentrum München (approx. 40.- to 50.- EUR).

From Munich main station (Hauptbahnhof):

U2 to station "Am Hart", then bus 294 (Garching-Hochbrück, runs every 20 min - hourly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) or bus 295 to station "Neuherberg, Helmholtz-Zentrum"

By Car:

City Center - Neuherberg

Ludwigstrasse - Leopoldstrasse - Ingolstädter Strasse - continuation Ingolstädter Landstrasse, the Helmholtz Zentrum München on the right, approximately 800 m after city boundary, total distance from city centre about 12 km. Taxi from city centre to the Helmholtz Zentrum München about 30 min (fare approx. 20 EUR).

Highways

Nürnberg - München: Route A 99, direction Stuttgart, first exit Neuherberg, from here follow signs (400 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Stuttgart - München: Route A 99, direction Salzburg, exit Neuherberg, at traffic light turn right (300 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

Salzburg - München: Route A 99, direction Stuttgart, exit Neuherberg, from here follow signs (400 m to the Helmholtz Zentrum München)

LHI/CPC (Comprehensive Pneumology Center)
Max-Lebsche-Platz 31
81377 München, Germany

By public transport:

From Munich City Center:

  • Subway U6 (U-Bahn-Linie 6) to Klinikum Großhadern (terminal stop), then walk across the parking lot to Max-Lebsche Platz 31.
  • Or busses 56 (station Max-Lebsche-Platz), 266, 269 (station Klinikum Großhadern) 

From Airport Munich:

  • S 8 (Herrsching) - change at Marienplatz for U6 (U-Bahn-Linie 6) to Klinikum Großhadern (terminal stop)

Clinical Trials

Graphic representation of a healthy pulmonary alveolus
Helmholtz Munich | Angelika Kramer Grafik Design
Ongoing trial

CatBOS

Cathepsin-B (CatB) as a new biomarker and therapeutic target for early bronchiolotis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation

View clinical trial
Graphic illustration of alveoli with COPD
Helmholtz Munich | Angelika Kramer Grafik Design
Ongoing Trial (Objective 1, no patients)

LeT-COPD

The study will investigate the role of lymphotoxin-expressing T cells in the development of tissue damage in COPD pathogenesis. The goal is to develop a predictive model that identifies subtypes at risk for developing severe COPD at early stages. Please note: The first step in this study will be a retrospective one, there will be no patients included.