Dr. Darja Andreev joins the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) as a junior research group leader. Her group uses cutting-edge omics and imaging approaches to study chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The immune system protects us from germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. However, sometimes the immune system malfunctions and cannot distinguish between the cells of its own body and others. In those cases of autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks its own body. Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are just some examples of autoimmune diseases that are the research focus of the Andreev group.

“We want to understand why the immune system turns on its own body. If we can find the cause, then maybe – in the long run – we can help find ways to stop it,” says Dr. Andreev.

Unique Approach to Autoimmunity

The Andreev group has a unique take on the autoimmune diseases. “We look at the interconnection between the cell and its environment. Of course, we look at what happens inside the cell, we map changes in the transcription and metabolism. But these cells do not exist in isolation. Therefore, we look at a tissue as a whole, at the microenvironment that surrounds the cell, and take into account not only all the cell types that make up a particular tissue but also the immune cells that coexist there,” explains Dr. Andreev.

From Erlangen to Dresden

Dr. Andreev is moving to Dresden from Erlangen. After obtaining her PhD in rheumatology and immunology at the Uniklinikum Erlangen in 2019, she continued working there as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2022, she became a junior group leader and established her independent research group at Uniklinikum Erlangen.

“I decided to join the CRTD because of its unique and strong community of researchers focused on immunity. CRTD and Dresden offer a great network of researchers and clinicians who exchange ideas and collaborate on cross-institutional projects. This, together with the great support of state-of-the-art facilities and a well-established international PhD program, makes CRTD a perfect place to develop my group,” says Dr. Andreev.