Center of Experimental Rheumatology

Our experimental research is based on molecular biology and is carried out at both locations: Campus Schlieren and Campus Balgrist. We emphasize especially on a translational research aspects. The aim of this molecular-translational research is to deliver comprehensive pre-clinical, functional portfolios for innovative therapeutic and diagnostic procedures preparing the ground for its clinical application.

Our research focuses on following diseases:

• Inflammatory autoimmune system diseases (i. E. systemic sclerosis)
• Chronic arthritides (i.E. rheumatoid arthritis, Spondilartritides)
• Musculoskeletal pain syndrome (i.E. chronic back pain and complex regional pain syndrome)

Our basic reseach uses Large Scale Screening methods and different “Omics” procedures, mainly on human probes from the targeted diseases. Furthermore, we investigate pathomechanisms of tissue remodeling and inflammatory autoimmune processes including inflammatory animal models. For these we apply prevailing methods in molecular biology. The results are then evaluated using precision medicine principles.

Research areas

• Epigenetic reprograming
• Mechanism of multiorgan remodelling in SSc
• Modic Changes, CRPS, 3D-Skin
• SSc, fibrosis and autoimmunity
• The role of synovial fibroblasts in RA
• Towards presicion medicine in SSc

Group leaders Prof. Dr. Oliver Distler Head of Department +41 44 255 29 77 oliver.distler@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: SSc, fibrosis and autoimmunity Tel. +41 44 255 29 77 oliver.distler@usz.ch PD Dr. Astrid Jüngel Group leader +41 44 510 75 13 astrid.juengel@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Modic Changes, CRPS, 3D-Skin Tel. +41 44 510 75 13 astrid.juengel@usz.ch PD Dr. Gabriela Kania Group leader +41 43 253 30 13 gabriela.kania@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Mechanism of multiorgan remodelling in SSc Tel. +41 43 253 30 13 gabriela.kania@usz.ch PD Dr. med. Britta Maurer Group leader +41 44 255 21 16 britta.maurer@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Towards precision medicine in SSc Tel. +41 44 255 21 16 britta.maurer@usz.ch Prof. Dr. Michel Neidhart Group leader +41 43 253 31 70 michel.neidhart@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: Epigenetic reprogramming Tel. +41 43 253 31 70 michel.neidhart@usz.ch PD Dr. med. Caroline Ospelt Group leader +41 43 253 31 71 caroline.ospelt@usz.ch ​ Publications Research field: The role of synovial fibroblasts in RA Tel. +41 43 253 31 71 caroline.ospelt@usz.ch Prof. Dr. med. Steffen Gay Consultant +41 44 255 57 37 steffen.gay@usz.ch ​Publications Tel. +41 44 255 57 37 steffen.gay@usz.ch

Staff Peter Künzler Lab manager +41 43 253 31 72 peter.kuenzler@usz.ch Tel. +41 43 253 31 72 peter.kuenzler@usz.ch Maria Comazzi MTA +41 43 253 31 73 maria.comazzi@usz.ch Tel. +41 43 253 31 73 maria.comazzi@usz.ch Benvinda Henriques Laboratory technician +41 43 253 31 73 benvinda.henriques@usz.ch Tel. +41 43 253 31 73 benvinda.henriques@usz.ch Zhongning Guo Biomedical analyser +41 43 253 31 36 zhongning.guo@usz.ch Tel. +41 43 253 31 36 zhongning.guo@usz.ch