Our research group focuses on the analysis of the bone marrow microenvironment, in particular the interaction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) and neighboring cells such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in patients with hematological neoplasms. Insufficient hematopoiesis is the main feature of these diseases, although the underlying mechanisms by which the malignant cells functionally inhibit healthy hematopoiesis have not been clarified in detail. However, given the central role of the bone marrow microenvironment and in particular MSC in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis, recent work from our group and others suggests that MSC play an important role in this process.

Comprehensive analyzes about the impaired MSC functions in the various myeloid and lymphoid entities and to identify common pathomechanisms that can be therapeutically targeted to improve stromal support for normal hematopoiesis are the focus of our group. For this, we work closely with other research groups at the Düsseldorf location and throughout Germany.