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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
How can immune signals contribute to liver damage in autoimmune hepatitis?
Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. But how exactly do immune signals contribute to this process?
We are excited to share our very first patient-oriented science sketch based on the recent publication by Yang Xu, Jan Philipp Weltzsch, Christoph Kilian, and colleagues, “Integrative omics and phase IIa clinical trial identify TNF as key node in autoimmune hepatitis” in the Journal of Hepatology.
The sketch illustrates how immune signals called cytokines, particularly TNF, can increase the susceptibility of liver cells to cell death, thereby promoting liver inflammation and tissue injury in AIH. The study further highlights TNF signaling as a promising therapeutic target and suggests that blocking this pathway could represent a steroid-sparing treatment strategy for patients with autoimmune hepatitis. If you are interested in learning more, the full text article is found here:
We would especially like to thank our CRC 1700 Patient Advisory Board for their valuable feedback and support in helping us improve the way we communicate scientific findings to patients and the broader public. With these science sketches, our goal is to make complex biomedical research more accessible, understandable, and engaging for patients and non-scientific audiences alike. We hope this format helps bridge the gap between research and patient understanding and encourages greater dialogue around translational medicine.
CRC 1700 Young Investigators Workshop Brings Together Early-Career Scientists in Translational Liver Immunology
On 11–12 May 2026, the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1700 “Immune Regulation in the Liver: From Homeostasis to Disease” hosted its first Young Investigators Workshop in Hamburg, bringing together early-career researchers from across the world as well as PhD and MD students from the CRC 1700 Graduate School for two days of scientific exchange, networking, and interdisciplinary learning.
The workshop was organized and led by the CRC 1700 spokespersons, Prof. Christoph Schramm and Prof. Maura Dandri. In total, 28 participants attended the workshop, including 10 international participants from institutions such as Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), Ghent University (Belgium), University of Southern California (USA), Oslo University Hospital (Norway), Bio-Gipuzkoa (Spain), Sapienza Universita Roma (Italy), Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca (Italy), The Hospital for Sick Children (Canada), MH Hannover (Germany).
The scientific programme provided participants with a comprehensive overview of current developments in translational liver immunology and related disciplines. Expert talks covered key topics such as the gut–liver axis, the role of infected hepatocytes and macrophages in liver immune regulation, microbiome research, experimental models of liver inflammation, and the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in biomedical research.
A particular highlight of the workshop was its strong focus on interaction and mentorship. Flash talks, poster sessions, and dedicated “Meet the Expert” mentoring meetings encouraged scientific exchange and fostered new collaborations among participants from different scientific and clinical backgrounds. The programme also included a patient perspective session, emphasizing the translational and clinical relevance of CRC 1700 research.
Beyond the scientific programme, social activities such as a boat trip through the Port of Hamburg provided additional opportunities for informal networking and strengthening connections within the young liver immunology community.
As part of the workshop, the best poster presentations from each poster session were selected and awarded. We congratulate the winners Josu Urretabizkaia Garmendia (University of the Basque Country - EHU, Kejsi Zeqiraj (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm), Vera Brackrock (UKE), and Mirco Thorheiden (UKE) on their excellent presentations and scientific contributions.
CRC 1700 would like to especially thank the invited external speakers Prof. Moritz Peiseler (Berlin) and Prof. Niklas Björkström (Stockholm) for their innovative talks on “liver in vivo imaging” and, “Immune niches in the liver” and their valuable contributions to the workshop programme.
The Young Investigators Workshop highlighted CRC 1700’s commitment to supporting early-career scientists and fostering interdisciplinary and international collaboration in liver immunology research.
Rising Star Award 2026 goes to Dr. Victor Haas
Hamburg, April 8, 2026 – The Collaborative Research Centre 1700 (CRC 1700) has named Dr. Victor Haas (Project B03, led by Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Schramm) as the first recipient of the Rising Star Award in Translational Liver Immunology 2026, recognizing his innovative project on how bacterial adaptation in the bile ducts influences liver inflammation. The award, endowed with €10,000 and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the CRC 1700 funding framework, supports outstanding early-career researchers and promotes independent scientific thinking, innovative project development and grant writing.
Dr. Haas’ project addresses a central question in liver immunology: how bacteria adapt to the unique and challenging environment of the bile ducts and how these adaptations influence inflammatory processes in the liver. The bile duct represents a highly specialized niche, shaped by bile acids, immune surveillance and constant flow, yet certain bacteria are able to persist and are associated with disease progression in chronic liver conditions.
Building on previous findings, the project investigates how bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis adapt over time within the human body and how these changes affect their interaction with the host. By combining patient-derived samples with experimental models, the research aims to better understand how microbial adaptation influences immune responses in the bile ducts and contributes to liver disease.
With its strong translational perspective, the project links microbial evolution to disease-relevant immune mechanisms and may uncover previously unrecognized pathways of immune regulation in the liver. The results will be presented at the CRC 1700 Annual Meeting in September.
The Rising Star Award is open to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers as well as clinician scientists affiliated with CRC 1700. Applicants were invited to submit short project proposals aligned with the CRC’s overarching theme, “Immune regulation in the liver: from homeostasis to disease.” Dr. Haas’ proposal stood out for its scientific originality and its interdisciplinary approach at the interface of microbiology and liver immunology.
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 to 6 p.m. at HCTI (N25) SR 0.02 (GF) and online via Zoom
Upcoming Sessions:
08th June 2026
Dr. Jenny Krause
Jenny Krause (University of Minnesota and UKE)
Title: "Antigen dependency defines memory and exhausted CD8 T cell fates"
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