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Collaborative Research Centre 1700 (CRC 1700)
"Immune regulation in the liver: from homeostasis to disease"
A multitude of antigens and signals derived from metabolism, nutrition and microorganisms reach the liver via the portal vein and via the mucosal surface of the biliary tract. As an aggressive immune response to all these antigens would cause severe tissue damage, the liver has evolved effective mechanisms to control inflammation and induce immune tolerance. However, hepatic immune tolerance might come at the expense of a survival benefit for cancer cells and hepatotropic viruses by preventing their recognition and elimination by the immune system.
The central hypothesis of CRC 1700 is that the regulation of immune responses is a key function of the liver that determines organismal health. We propose that faulty orchestration of cellular interaction and signalling within the hepatic microenvironment can lead either to immune-mediated inflammation and autoimmune disease, or to persistent infections and cancer. To understanding the mechanisms of hepatic immune regulation that govern the development of tolerance or immune activation this CRC brings together clinician scientists, medical scientists and expert computational scientists in an interdisciplinary and synergistic environment structured in Project Area A and Project Area B.
News
Lidia Bosurgi has been accepted onto the DFG-funded Heisenberg Programme
Lidia Bosurgi, PhD , who works as an independent junior research group leader in the I. Department of Medicine at the UKE has been accepted into the DFG's Heisenberg Programme. This programme enables outstanding scientists, who meet all the requirements for a long-term professorship, to prepare for a scientific leadership position while conducting advanced research.
We warmly congratulate her on this major milestone.
For more information on Dr Bosurgi's projects in the CRC 1700, follow the links to
New CRC 1700 junior research group leader Hao Huang receives EMDS Young Investigator Award
At this year's European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society meeting in Edinburgh, Dr Hao Huang was presented with the Young Investigator Award in recognition of his scientific work. The award was presented by the outgoing EMDS president, Prof. Dr. Thomas Decker. We congratulate Dr Huang on this award and wish him every success in his research when he starts in Hamburg on 1 January 2026.
CRC 1700 Kick-Off Retreat at Seehotel Töpferhaus
From 3–5 September 2025, CRC 1700 “Immune regulation in the liver: from homeostasis to disease” held its first retreat at the Seehotel Töpferhaus by the Bistensee. Although the consortium officially started on 1 April 2025, this retreat marked the scientific kick-off with all members on site. The aim was to welcome our newly recruited PhD and MD students, strengthen collaboration within the CRC, and provide space for scientific exchange in an inspiring setting.
The opening day was dedicated to the Integrated Research Training Group (iRTG). Most PhD and MD students joined the programme between April and September, with a few more to follow in October. They were introduced to the CRC and the iRTG, presented their projects in short talks, and had plenty of opportunities for networking – from icebreakers to a scavenger hunt through the beautiful lakeside landscape. A highlight was the lecture by Mercator Fellow Dr Fotios Sampaziotis (Cambridge Stem Cell Institute) on lab-grown bile ducts and novel approaches to treating biliary diseases. In the evening, the iRTG student representatives Marie Abele, Lucas Bergmann and Mirco Torheiden were elected.
On days two and three, the scientific programme shifted to the broader consortium. All 15 projects, support structures, and the equal opportunities programme were presented. Early career researchers who had recently been associated to the CRC gave inspiring talks, and participants attended a session on AI in scientific writing. In between, breaks were filled with swimming, kayaking, or volleyball by the lake, allowing both relaxation and informal exchange.
The retreat was a very successful start into the upcoming three-year funding period of CRC 1700. Collaborations were formed and can now be expanded, first results were shared, and our PhD and MD students – the next generation of researchers – were fully integrated into the consortium. With motivation and strong team spirit, we are looking forward to three exciting years of joint research on liver immune regulation, aiming to deliver new insights that will ultimately benefit patients.
Join Our CRC 1700 Seminar Series
First monday of each month, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at HCTI N25 GF SR 0.02 and online via Zoom
Upcoming Sessions:
6th October 2025
"Immune Surveillance of the Liver"
Prof. Matteo Iannacone, MD, PhD
San Raffaele Scientific Institute & University Milan
3rd November 2025
Prof. Mala Maini, MD, PhD
University College London
1st December 2025
Prof. Dr. med. Jakob Kather
Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and TU Dresden
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