EXC 2167: Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation (PMI)

The Cluster proposal "Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation" (PMI) focuses on chronic inflammatory diseases of barrier organs (CIBD). Increasing patient numbers and costs clearly correspond to an unmet medical need for more efficient diagnostics and therapy. PMI will translate newly identified principles in pathophysiology into a precision medicine approach employing an intense interdisciplinary networking between researchers in evolutionary biology, immunology, medicine, nutrition, and medical technology, with validation by systematic exploration in patients. A dynamic and self-adjusted apportionment of state funds to optimise infrastructures in the University Hospital for clinical research across all Cluster sites is accomplished through a new governance in a joint institution (Precision Health in Schleswig-Holstein: PHSH). Members of PHSH are the most excellent translational researchers, who are continuously selected by the Schleswig-Holstein Excellence-Chair program using an external evaluation process. PHSH is a cornerstone in PMI’s strategy to establish a sustainable and general culture of excellence in clinical research.The Cluster is based on broadly funded, regional research collaborations with a history of more than 15 years. Research and Technology Fields (RTFs) have been defined by a bottom-up process, which are interconnected by multidisciplinary research projects, target innovation projects (TIs) and clinical demonstrators (CDs). Health care in the University hospital has been reorganized to facilitate patient access and to implement new precision medicine algorithms. This includes the consolidation of inflammation medicine from different indication fields into interdisciplinary treatment centres (Comprehensive Centers for Inflammation Medicine (CCIMs)), a "broad consent" that is requested from all patients (which enables unrestricted access to anonymised patient data and (residual) biomaterials), and a clinician scientist program with a fully approved curriculum by the chamber of physicians in Schleswig-Holstein, so that dual qualifications (science and medical training) can be achieved with minimal loss in time. The clinical research environment is supported by existing and newly-created chairs for epidemiology and biobanking, medical systems biology, medical informatics and statistical genetics. PMI applies for funding to close thematic gaps (metabolomics, stem cell research) through additional professorships and improve physical infrastructures (equipment, technology platforms). Young researchers on all levels receive structured curricular training. The Dorothea Erxleben-program for Gender Equality, which has more than tripled the proportion of female principal investigators (PIs; from 8% 10 years ago to now 28%) will be expanded with the aim to qualify more female researchers for leadership, and to reach 50% among the PIs by 2025.