Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship

Professor Wolfram Ruf, MD
Professorship for Cell Signaling Pathways of the Hemostatic System



The hemostatic system is comprised of the coagulation and fibrinolytic protease cascades, platelets, and cellular receptors on immune and vascular cells. The hemostatic response to infection and tissue injury supports inflammatory and immune reactions, but the coagulation pathways are increasingly recognized as major players and molecular targets for interventional therapy in cancer progression, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammatory disorders, and the metabolic syndrome associated with obesity. We are interested in the crosstalk of coagulation and inflammation and study contributions of inflammatory processes to the initiation of coagulation by tissue factor (TF). Our research also broadly addresses open question related to the roles of TF and coagulation protease signaling networks in the integration and modulation of inflammatory stimuli in immune cells. We are interested in the control of macrophage phenotypes by coagulation proteases and their receptors in chronic inflammation and use novel genetic mouse models that selectively delete or alter signaling specificity of components of the hemostatic system in innate immune cell populations. This genetic platform is employed in combination with transcriptional and proteomics approaches for generating fundamentally novel insights into cellular and molecular connections between coagulation and inflammation. We are interested in translational research that deciphers molecular mechanisms of diseases of the cardiovascular system and evaluates clinically relevant interventional proof-of-principle molecular probes in disease models.


Research Interests

  • Molecular mechanisms of prothrombotic activation of TF
  • Coagulation protease signaling in myelo-monocytic cells
  • Protease activated receptor (PAR) signaling specificity in inflammation
  • Crosstalk of the hemostatic system with tumor progression and angiogenesis

Third party funding


Team

 Professor Wolfram Ruf, MD

Professor Wolfram Ruf, MD

Scientific Director CTH, Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship "Experimental Hemostasiology", Deputy Speaker of CTH, Deputy Speaker of CTVB, Principal Investigator DZHK

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PD Claudine Graf, MD PhD

Junior group leader
Physician UCT Mainz

Specialist in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Additional qualification: Palliative Care, Hemostaseology

 Kristin Grunz

Kristin Grunz

PhD student

 Shashwat Kaushal

Shashwat Kaushal

PhD Student

 Trisha Lahiri

Trisha Lahiri

PhD student

Dr. Valentina Minciacchi

Dr. Valentina Minciacchi

Post Doc; High Potential Grant Recipient

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Mahnoor Nizami

Technical Assistant

Dr. Cathrin Nourse

Dr. Cathrin Nourse

Scientific Coordination CTH

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Sven Pagel

PhD student

 Jennifer Pott

Jennifer Pott

PhD student

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Sabine Reyda

Research Coordinator

 Carina Rodrigues (geb. Santos)

Carina Rodrigues (geb. Santos)

PhD student

 Foruzandeh Samangan

Foruzandeh Samangan

Technical assistant

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PhD Madhusudhan Thati

Post Doc

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Petra Wilgenbus

Technician

 Claudius Witzler

Claudius Witzler

PhD student

 Romina Wolz

Romina Wolz

PhD student


We are looking forward to applications from highly motivated scientists.
Find out more (PDF 121,4 KB).

Selected publications


Reviews (Selection)


Editorials, Comments and other articles (Selection)

July 2022

curATime funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Press Release

November 2021

Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1292 'Targeting convergent mechanisms of inefficient immunity in tumors and chronic infections' started 2nd funding round. Press Release

March 2021

Mechanismus of the autoimmune disease APS described by CTH researchers. Press Release and publication

February 2013


Professor Wolfram Ruf, MD
receives Alexander von Humboldt Professorship - awarded by the Federal Minister of Research Prof. Wanka in Berlin (Media AvH-Foundation)