Dr. rer. nat. Constanze Jakwerth

Constanze Jakwerth studied molecular medicine in Freiburg, Providence, RI and Boston, MA, USA (Harvard Medical School). She obtained the degree of Dr. rer. nat. at the Department of Internal Medicine III (Hematooncology) at the Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich with a focus on the immunological and molecular pathogenesis of severe courses of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Dr. Constanze Jakwerth then had the chance to work independently as a postdoc in the field of airway immunology at the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) / Institute of Allergy Research (IAF), where she currently writes her habilitation thesis regarding the allergic airway epithelium as interface between environmental factors and the immune response. Since 2022, she has been deputy group leader of the Airway Immunology Group, which is headed by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Carsten Schmidt-Weber, Director of the Institute for Allergy Research (IAF/ZAUM) and Head of the Center for Allergy and Environment (ZAUM).

The Airway Immunology Group aims to understand how environmental triggers can cause diseases like allergic rhinitis, asthma or infections like COVID-19 The airway epithelial cells constitute the barrier to our environment and, together with immune cells scattered in this layer, are the first cells to be exposed to environmental components such as allergens, viruses or pollutant particles. The focus of the Airway Immunology group is on epithelial cell biology and its cross-talk with the immune system (T cells, innate lymphocytes and macrophages). There are critical changes in the airway epithelium that can prime both epithelial differentiation and the immune system, ultimately leading to the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. We investigate the role of the airway epithelium in allergic inflammation under the influence of Th1/Th2 mediators. It is important to understand the interaction between epithelial cells and immune cells to identify specific biomarkers for allergic inflammation. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is another focus under investigation, and therapeutic efficacy is also being investigated at the epithelial barrier.

AllergyAsthmaCOVID-19ImmunologyImmune ToleranceAllergen-specific ImmunotherapyTranslational ResearchPrimary Organotypic 3D-cultures40-color Flow CytometrySingle Cell RNA-sequencing

I am firmly convinced that we must strengthen translational research in particular, since we expect output here that can be directly transferred back to the clinic. Since I was very fortunate to complete a translational degree in molecular medicine in Freiburg, I see it as my responsibility to strengthen communication between clinics and basic research and to communicate innovative advances to the outside world in a way that is generally understandable to the public. It is further very important to me to introduce young scientists to translational research.