About us

The Max Planck Research Group of Systems Immunology is a collaborative effort between the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg and the Max Planck Society aimed at promoting excellent immunological research. Around 50 researchers from more than 20 countries are working together to understand the basis of a successful immune response against infectious agents, chronic inflammatory diseases, and tumors. Their ultimate goal is to develop new concepts and strategies for vaccines and immunotherapies.

To achieve this, the group is investigating the development and function of the immune system holistically at multiple levels. They are conducting high-resolution analyses of single molecules and cells, examining complex cellular networks within organs, and exploring systemic interactions in the body and with the environment. These research goals align well with the internationally visible research on infectious diseases and immunotherapies at the Würzburg Life Science Campus.

Research Alliance Immunomedicine

The University of Würzburg is part of the research alliance immunomedicine (Forschungsallianz Immunmedizin). The aim of this alliance is the development of new diagnostic tools and therapies for major common diseases such as infections, cancer and autoimmune diseases. The alliance networks complementary strategies of the University sites Erlangen-Nürnberg, Regensburg and Würzburg and develops synergistic key areas to strengthen immunomedicine at the highest level in northern and eastern Bavaria.

The Research Group is Growing

The Max Planck Research Group was established in 2017 with the assistance of the Free State of Bavaria, in collaboration with the Max Planck Society at Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. Following the creation of spatial and technical infrastructure and the establishment of working groups during a preliminary phase, the research group commenced its scientific work on January 1, 2020. At present, the group comprises four research teams led by directors Wolfgang Kastenmüller and Georg Gasteiger, as well as junior research group leaders Mercedes Gomez de Agüero and Martin Vaeth. A dynamic research environment has developed around her at the Institute for Systems Immunology, encompassing eight research groups dedicated to immunological research.

Interdisciplinary Research Enables a Holistic Approach

The fact that leading researchers consider Würzburg an ideal environment for immunology research is exemplified by the appointment of Dominic Grün to the newly established University Chair of “Computational Biology of Spatial Biomedical Systems.” This chair was created as part of a call by the Bavarian Network for Artificial Intelligence and is integrated into the newly founded Institute for Systems Immunology. Grün, a physicist and bioinformatician, who previously conducted research at the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg and is now one of the highly cited researchers in his field, was the ideal choice for this top-class position, which complements the research of the Max Planck team.

In addition, associated research groups are headed by Anna Lippert, Jakob Zimmermann and Katarzyna Jobin.

The Institute of Systems Immunology brings together experts from medicine, biology, physics, and computer science to understand the complex interactions between the immune system and the body. They utilize state-of-the-art techniques, such as high-resolution dynamic and quantitative imaging and sequencing technologies, as well as artificial intelligence, to explore the immune system across all size scales.

Würzburg as a strong immunological location

With the establishment of the Max Planck Research Group, immunology has gained great momentum at this site, as it directly relates to the scientific focal points of the location, including infection research, cardiovascular diseases, and hematological tumor diseases. Therefore, important strategic interactions have been established with researchers from Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, University Hospital of Würzburg, Helmholtz Center for RNA-based Infection Research and the NUCLEATE Cluster of Excellence. For instance, successful collaborative projects have been established in these areas (see below).

Moreover, Würzburg recently became one of four sites of the National Center for Tumor Diseases that focuses on immunotherapy research. Research at the Würzburg Medical Campus is complemented by the activities of the Max Planck team. Several clinics and institutes here study the regulation of immune cells and develop immunotherapies for cancer and skin diseases.

Major non-university research organizations in Würzburg

In 2017, the Helmholtz Association and the University celebrated the establishment of their new joint Institute for RNA-based Infection Research in Würzburg. The Alliance of Science Organizations is also represented in Würzburg by the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC. The Max Planck Research Group of Systems Immunology is a crucial element in the efforts to expand non-university research at the Würzburg location and to further develop it at an excellent level, particularly in the field of immunology.

Impact and Momentum

Within a short period of time, the research groups have published more than 130 scientific papers in top-tier international journals. The international symposia on systems immunology organized by the group in Würzburg in 2022, 2023 and 2025 have received broad and highly positive recognition.

The scientists at the Institute of Systems Immunology have also been successful in obtaining third-party funding, including five ERC grants, which are among the most prestigious European research grants. Collaborating with colleagues at the site, the research group has won several new SFB projects, such as the Würzburg SFBs 1525 ("Cardio-Immune Interfaces") and 1583 ("DECIDE: Decisions in Infectious Diseases"), as well as the TRR 338 ("LETSImmun: Lymphocyte Engineering for Immunotherapy"), in partnership with Munich.

Future of the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology

At the end of 2023, the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology was evaluated by an international panel of experts on behalf of the Max Planck Society, received an excellent rating, and has been extended until the end of 2026. The reviewers emphasized the innovative research approaches and the international visibility of the Würzburg teams.

The goal now is to further expand this medically and socially highly relevant basic research and to translate its findings into benefits for patients. The establishment of a Max Planck Center in Würzburg, as recently announced by the Bavarian government and the Max Planck Society, would represent a highly significant step toward this goal.