ImmunoPreCept

Exploring the interface between health and disease for cell-based molecular prevention and interceptive medicine

The number of chronic diseases - such as immune-mediated inflammation and cancer - is increasing in many countries. Current therapies often start too late and primarily treat symptoms, while early dysfunctional processes are still poorly understood. ImmunoPreCept represents a paradigm shift - and a new alliance between research, medicine and society. Against the backdrop of convincing epidemiological findings that demonstrate the inadequacy of current health promotion measures, the cluster is expanding the scope of action of modern medicine: by targeting the causes of disease and strengthening the foundations of long-term health, the scientists of the newly funded Cluster of Excellence are making an important contribution to reducing the long-term burden on healthcare systems, improving people's quality of life and promoting health and resilience in the population. With its innovative research programme, ImmunoPreCept is thus making a key contribution to realising the promise of modern medicine: extending a healthy, disease-free life.

"By funding ImmunoPreCept, we have the opportunity to fundamentally change the medical perspective: Away from the reactive treatment of symptomatic diseases, towards a deep understanding of health as an active, immune-mediated process. By investigating how the immune system maintains a state of 'health' and how and when this process gets out of sync, we are creating the scientific basis for molecular prevention and early intervention."

Prof Dr Britta Siegmund, Prof Dr Andreas Diefenbach (both Charité - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin), Prof Dr Nikolaus Rajewsky (Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine)

Based in Berlin, ImmunoPreCept combines expertise from immunology, systems biology, medicine and the social sciences. The Cluster of Excellence investigates how the immune system maintains tissue integrity, how the dysfunction of homeostatic processes causes disease and how remission is linked to the restoration of such processes.

In addition to excellent research, the cluster also focuses on social dialogue, health policy networking and educational work - with the aim of fundamentally transforming medicine, improving care and sustainably reducing healthcare costs.