Label-free endoscopic analysis of immune-epithelial communication with advanced optical technologies (C01)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology ; Immunology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 375876048

Label-free multiphoton endomicroscopy (MPEM) offers unique opportunities for an in vivo evaluation of immune-epithelial interactions in mucosal inflammation. We have shown that the technology can provide information about epithelial damage and immune cell infiltration ex vivo and in vivo in real-time. We will now further develop this by combining morphological and spectral information for an automated classification of mucosal inflammation in preclinical models and human disease. Our long-term goal is to establish MPEM for the study of mucosal inflammation in preclinical models and to translate the technology for clinical precision mapping of human IBD.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 241: Immune-Epithelial Communication in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Sebastian Schürmann; Professor Maximilian Waldner, Ph.D.