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Porträt Julia Esser-von Bieren
Helmholtz Munich | ©Felix Imhof

Prof. Julia Esser-von Bieren, PhD

Helmholtz Young Investigator group leader, Institute of Allergy Research Munich, Innate Immunomodulation

“The overall vision for my research is to make a difference for patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma or nasal polyps. Using a combination of metabolomic and epigenetic analysis, patient samples and genetic models, we aim to target the inflammatory innate memory that we have found in these diseases.”

“The overall vision for my research is to make a difference for patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma or nasal polyps. Using a combination of metabolomic and epigenetic analysis, patient samples and genetic models, we aim to target the inflammatory innate memory that we have found in these diseases.”

Academic Pathway & Research Area

Julia Esser-von Bieren received her PhD in Medical Sciences in 2011 from the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden), where she started to work on lipid mediators (eicosanoids) in the context of allergy and inflammation. During her postdoc at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne with Prof. Nicola Harris (2011-2014) Julia investigated mechanisms of macrophage-mediated immunity against helminth parasites. In 2015, she joined the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) at the Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich as a junior group leader. Since 2018, Julia is leading the Helmholtz Young Investigator group “Innate Immunomodulation“. In 2022 Julia was recruited as an Associate Professor in Infection Immunology to the Department of Immunobiology.

Julia Esser-von Bieren performs research in the area of molecular medicine. Her group studies innate effector mechanisms of allergy, asthma and helminth infection. The team is particularly interested in uncovering the roles of eicosanoid lipid mediators and macrophages in type 2 immune responses in asthma, nasal polyposis and helminth infection. A particular focus is the identification and characterization of helminth molecules that regulate type 2 inflammatory diseases. As a second major aim, the team studies innate memory responses as a mechanism of chronic airway diseases. Ultimately, our team’s research is aimed at contributing to new therapeutic strategies to treat chronic airway inflammation.

Fields of Work and Expertise

AllergyInflammationType 2 ImmunityMacrophage BiologyParasite InfectionEicosanoids

Professional Background

2022

Associate Professor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

2018

Helmholtz Young Investigator group leader, Helmholtz Center Munich

2011

PhD in Medical Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Honors and Awards

  • 2022
    Emerging Leader in Mucosal Immunology, Society for Mucosal Immunology

  • 2021
    Henning Løwenstein Research Award Prize (International Allergy Research Prize)

  • 2020
    DGAKI Award “New Immunological Therapies” (German Allergy Research Prize)

Private Facts

As a mother of two young children, I am passionate about promoting the reconciliation of family and a career in Science as well as gender equality in general.

Publications

Read more

2022 Scientific Article in Frontiers in Pharmacology

Lemmel, S. ; Weckmann, M. ; Wohlers, A. ; Jirmo, A.C. ; Grychtol, R. ; Ricklefs, I. ; Nissen, G. ; Bachmann, A. ; Singh, S. ; Caicedo, J.C. ; Bahmer, T. ; Hansen, G. ; ALLIANCE Study Group (von Mutius, E. ; Illi, S. ; Maison, N. ; Schmidt-Weber, C.B. ; Zissler, U.M.) ; Rabe, K.F. ; Fuchs, O. ; Dittrich, A.M. ; Schaub, B. ; Happle, C. ; Carpenter, A.E. ; Kopp, M.V. ; Becker, T.

In vitro neutrophil migration is associated with inhaled corticosteroid treatment and serum cytokines in pediatric asthma.

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Networks and Affiliations

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DFG Research Unit FOR2599

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DFG SFB TRR 355

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DFG priority program SPP 2306