RESPIMMUN - Immune Modulation in Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, COPD, lung fibrosis, and asthma, are a potential threat to health, life and affect several-hundred million people worldwide. Thus, respiratory diseases rank second only to cardiovascular diseases in terms of morbidity and social-economic burden. Very often, inflammation is an underlying problem and an altered, excessive immune-reaction can be observed, which seems to play an important role in pathogenesis as well as disease progression. However, to date these underlying mechanisms to several chronic lung diseases remain dramatically understudied, therapeutic options narrow and outcome poor. RESPImmun Immune Modulation in Respiratory Diseases, a new interdisciplinary PhD program starting in autumn 2021 at the Medical University of Graz, is the very first program in Austria and perhaps even within Europe, that will focus exactly on this interface between respiratory diseases, inflammation and immune modulation. By applying multidisciplinary and translational science, new therapeutic and diagnostic concepts will be developed. The gained knowledge will help to better combat infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2 in future. Additional novel and unique aspects of RESPImmun are the inclusion of junior PIs to promote and nurture next generation researchers side- by-side to the early-stage scientists on PhD-student level, the focus on patient empowerment, and close collaboration with industrial partners to enable quick translation of generated concepts into possible therapeutic options. RESPImmun will bring about sustainable and outstanding lung research and training in Austria, fostering an internationally renowned center of excellence of lung research and patient care.