Award ceremony for the 2026 Rudolf Schoen Prize, President of the RhKo2026 Prof. Dr. Ulf Wagner, PD. Dr. Christina Bergmann, Prof. Dr. Georg Schett (speaker of laudation); Photo: Medicine 3 UKER / Sandra Jeleazcov
Matthias Merz
Janina R., a lupus patient, gave birth to a child four years after receiving CAR T-cell therapy. Source: private
CASCAID – Cellular and Systemic Control of Autoimmune Disease
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Chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease often occur in recurring flare-ups and can lead to progressive organ damage. At Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, the newly established Collaborative Research Center CRC 1755 CASCAID, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, investigates the immune networks and tissue mechanisms that drive these chronic inflammatory conditions. |
The goal of CASCAID is to better understand why autoimmune diseases can remain symptom-free for certain periods and why relapses still occur. By combining clinical research, advanced tissue profiling, and innovative therapeutic approaches, the programme explores how the immune system can be reset to achieve sustained remission without the need for continuous medication. |
CASCAID focuses on developing new treatment strategies that go beyond symptom management. The research includes cutting-edge immunological therapies such as:
These approaches aim to transform the treatment of autoimmune diseases by enabling long-term disease control and providing lasting relief from chronic inflammation. By integrating basic science with clinical research, CASCAID creates a strong translational research environment. Large patient cohorts, tissue analyses, and clinical studies provide essential data to accelerate the transfer of scientific discoveries into real-world clinical applications.
