Project: FG/008/26
Duration: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2029

Infertility will continue to affect millions of people worldwide, with many cases remaining unexplained. While most research will stay focused on reproductive cells and hormones, the team led by Dr. Dorothee Bornhorst-Ohmstede (Institute of Cell Biology, ZMBE, and Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology (CeRA)) will explore a different angle: the role of blood and lymphatic vessels in supporting fertility. These vessels supply oxygen and nutrients, remove waste, and help regulate the reproductive environment; however, their influence on fertility remains poorly understood. Dr. Bornhorst-Ohmstede’s research will investigate whether malformations in these vascular systems contribute to infertility. Using zebrafish as a model, she will visualize how blood and lymphatic vessels interact with the developing gonads and germ cells in real time. Through gene editing, advanced imaging, and human stem cell-derived organoid models, she will elucidate how disrupted vessel function might impair reproductive health. Her work will pave the way for new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies, offering hope to those facing unexplained infertility by targeting a long-overlooked support system essential to reproduction.

Project: FG/007/25
Duration: 09.2025 - 08.2029

Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of our time and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and liver damage. A major reason for these harmful effects is that obesity causes chronic, low-grade inflammation, which gradually damages tissues and organs. The aim of current research is to better understand how the immune system regulates this inflammation. In particular, a group of molecules known as inhibitory receptors is in the focus, as they play a key role in maintaining immune balance. By deciphering the molecular mechanisms of these receptors and their function in controlling inflammatory processes, the team led by Dr. Mariano Malamud Guillan (Institute of Experimental Pathology, ZMBE) hopes to identify new strategies to reduce harmful immune responses and to protect people from the health problems associated with obesity and related metabolic diseases.