Laboratory of Immunobiology

Research

Central and peripheral immune tolerance, TCR signalling, TLR signalling, embryonic haematopoiesis

Our research mainly concerns:

• the mechanisms guiding the process of immune central and peripheral T-cell tolerance and autoimmunity;
• initiation of T-cell activation;
• embryonic haematopoiesis, and
• the role of Toll-like receptors in these processes.

In the last decade, we dedicated our effort to improve the impact of our research activity by implementing the following four strategies:

• in general, we strictly set up our priorities and select those areas of research that are highly novel, promising, competitive, and yet close to our expertise and interest;
• particularly, we focused on a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the cellular, molecular and signalling aspects of the mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance, embryonic homeostasis and T-cell signalling. Towards this end, we utilized the strategy of generating several knock-out and knock-in transgenic mouse strains, which allowed us to observe the biological correlates and consequences of these mechanisms under perturbed and unperturbed conditions;
• we heavily invested in the acquisition of a battery of commercially or academically available transgenic mouse models and created an experimental panel of mutated strains, which allowed us to accelerate the rate of discovery; and
• we further deepen our ties with collaborating laboratories abroad and locally, organize regular meetings and exchanges of ideas, materials and reagents.

In this context, we take pride in our highly motivated, smart and hard-working students and young scientists and the fact that all lab members are actively involved in shaping the research via discussions at lab meetings, preparing talks for conferences and students’ seminars.