AG Schmidt

German version

Research areas

The immune system protects from pathogens and malign transformations, and a failure of immune responses can lead to severe infections and cancer development. The goal of our research group is to advance the understanding of host-pathogen interactions to reveal mechanisms leading to immune failure. This will aid the identification of novel targets for immunotherapeutic approaches.  We particularly focus on phenotypic, functional and metabolic alterations of antiviral and antitumour T cells.

Metabolic diseases and novel metabolic therapies

Our key aim is to pin down the impact of metabolic diseases and therapies on the immune system. The number of people with obesity is continuously rising worldwide with major consequences for personal and public health but new weight loss drugs have revolutionised the treatment over the last years. Obesity leads to a severe course of infections which was clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The immune system protects from infections, but first studies suggest an immune-dampening effect of obesity. We aim to determine the impact of obesity and weight loss therapies on the immune response against clinically relevant infections (e.g. SARS-CoV-2, influenza, herpes viruses and HIV) with the goal to reveal underlying mechanisms. This will allow the development of novel immune-boosting therapies for obese people. 

The role of sex and gender in infectious diseases and immunity

Nathalie Schmidt leads the AG Sex differences in infectious diseases (SEX-ID) together with Prof. Clara Lehmann. We are part of the interdisciplinary AG Sex, Gender and Diversity in Medical Research of the University of Cologne. Traditionally, clinical and basic research focuses on male participants and animals; however, over the last years it has become clear that sex and gender can influence the course of diseases and the responses to drug treatment. Therefore, the aim of our research group is to pin down the impact of sex and gender on infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, post COVID-19 syndrome) and the immune system.

Dr. Dr. Nathalie Schmidt
Publications (Pubmed)
Phone +49 174 2104017
E-mail nathalie.schmidt@uk-koeln.de

About

Sophie Jakubassa (medical student)
Emmelie Haase (medical student)
Laura Bockemühl (medical student)
Kamile Kietzmann (medical student)

Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Köln Fortune
Cologne Clinician Scientist Program

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Ruth Hanssen (University Hospital Cologne)
Prof. Dr. Jan Rybniker (University Hospital Cologne)
Prof. Dr. Clara Lehmann (University Hospital Cologne)
Prof. Dr. Jens Brüning (Max-Planck-Institute for Metabolism Research)
Prof. Dr. Mala Maini (University College London, UK)
Dr. Anna Schurich (King’s College London, UK)
Prof. Dr. Andrew Hogan (Maynooth University, Ireland)