Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bernhagen, Principal Investigator

Read more about the PI on the next tab.

Barbara Hönig, Team Assistant

I am contact person for all non-scientific concerns. Working literally in the centre of the Bernhagen and Goekce Lab, I guarantee smooth organisational processes in everyday lab work. When I am out of office, I love to spend time with family and friends and travel the world.

Dr. Omar El Bounkari, Senior staff scientist & Technical laboratory head

Following my Biochemistry studies at the University of Hannover, I pursued my PhD degree at the Institute of Biochemistry at the Medical School of Hannover (MHH) under the supervision of Prof. Tamura-Niemann focusing on the interplay between tyrosine kinase signaling and the mRNA export machinery (THO complex). After a brief postdoc fellowship in the same group, I joined the lab of Prof. Bernhagen at RWTH Aachen University in 2010 first as a post-doc and then junior group leader, focusing on the characterization of heteromeric cytokine¬/chemokine receptor complexes MIF proteins, and their function in immune and inflammatory diseases. I followed the lab when it moved to LMU Munich in the end of 2015, where I am now a senior staff scientist, junior group, leader, and technical laboratory head. My research aims at decrypting the role of the MIF protein family and their receptors in immune cells, in particular B lymphocytes, and the related mechanisms that drive inflammatory processes in cardiovascular or autoimmune disease. In my leisure time, I like horse riding and hiking.

Dr. med. Adrian Hoffmann, clinician scientist

I am a Clinician Scientist, working in the Department of Anesthesiology (LMU University Hospital) and doing research with a focus on the diverse effects of alarmins during sterile inflammation. I studied Medicine in Frankfurt and enjoy hiking, running and after-work-Isar-swimming.

Simona Gerra, M.Sc., Technical assistant

I am originally from Italy, where I finished my Master’s studies in Biology at the University of Milano Bicocca. Working as Environmental Educator and Hiking Guide, I had the opportunity to share the basic ecological principles and evolutionary forces that affect wildlife and their associated habitats. I developed activities about topics such as forest, stream ecology and wildlife science. In August 2018, I joined the Bernhagen research group as Laboratory Technical Assistant. I perform bacterial culturing, protein purification, cell culture and immunoassays, as well as maintaining the lab supplies and equipment. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking and reading books.

Maida Avdic, B.Sc., Technical assistant

I am originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I received my Bachelor degree in Genetics and Bioengineering. In October 2021, I moved to Munich and joined the Bernhagen team as Technical Assistant. The position was very appealing to me because of my interest in biochemistry, vascular biology, and the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. I am excited to be in a top-class research institute where I can get trained in various technologies and methods. I am looking forward to share my gained knowledge with some other young scientists in the future. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my nieces and go for walks.

Dr. rer. nat. Markus Brandhofer, postdoctoral investigator & m4 team member

Originally from the Munich area, I obtained a Bachelor and Master in Biotechnology from FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences and first joined the Bernhagen Lab – back then located at RWTH Aachen University – for my Master thesis, working on effects of the proinflammatory cytokine MIF and alarmins in liver inflammation. In 2016, I followed the lab to the ISD and returned to Munich. Here, I’m interested in the role of MIF family proteins as atypical chemokines and investigate their crosstalk with classical chemokines. When I’m not busy in the lab, I enjoy visiting friends, trying different kinds of craft beer, going geocaching or just relaxing and reading a nice book.

Yuan Tian, PhD, postdoctoral investigator

Originally from Beijing, China, while working in a Neurology Department of my University Hospital, I decided that Neuroscience is what I want to be doing. And here I finally am, a PhD student focusing on neuroinflammation and stroke. I was able to obtain a 3-year LMU / CSC scholarship and got accepted as a PhD student in the Bernhagen lab and at Munich Medical Research School (MMRS) which made it possible for me to not only live my dream in the lab, but it also gives me the opportunity to enjoy exploring this beautiful city and making new friends.

Ying Gao, MD, PhD student

I am originally from China, where in 2015, I got my Bachelor degree in Medicine from Central South University in Changsha. After that, I chose to continue my studies in the Department of Neurology affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. With an enquiring mind to explore the sustainable links between basic scientific research and clinical translation and to get scientific training abroad, I applied with the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)/LMU PhD program and got awarded a prestigious CSC/LMU fellowship to perform my PhD thesis in the Bernhagen Lab at ISD in Munich. Since October 2018, I am working on my thesis concerned with a novel class of chemokine peptide inhibitors with potential utility in cardiovascular disease and stroke. When not working at lab, I like spending time to do workout or some outdoor activities, such as traveling, climbing.

Bishan Yang, PhD student

Originally from China, I obtained my Master degree from South China University of Technology in physiology. I finished my Master thesis on the topic of cell recruitment mechanisms at the Institute of Biomechanics, and I decided to do further studies related to inflammation. In 2019, I was accepted as a PhD student in the Bernhagen lab funded by an LMU/CSC scholarship for 4 years. Now I study for my PhD thesis in which I explore the relationship between MIF proteins and B lymphocytes in atherosclerosis. In my spare time, I love playing card games with my friends as well as playing badminton. 

Lin Zhang, MD, PhD student

Originally from China, I studied Clinical Medicine at Zhengzhou University, where I got my medical Master’s degree. In the fall of 2019, I joined the Bernhagen lab to work on my PhD thesis. My research focuses on the role of MIF family proteins in the resolution of inflammatory processes, e.g. in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a project performed under the supervision of Dr. med. Adrian Hoffmann and in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesiology at LMU University Hospital. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends.

Kobra Moradzadeh Gavbazeh, PhD student

I am originally from Iran, where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degree in biotechnology and medical biotechnology, respectively. During my master’s study I worked in the Regenerative Medicine Research Center in the area of kidney diseases. My thesis project was mainly about the role of CXCL12 in the regeneration of acute kidney injury. It was part of a systems biology study, in which the prediction of a mathematical model on a hypoxia pathway, a common condition in acute kidney injury, was validated experimentally. After graduation, I shortly worked for a pharmaceutical company and then joined the Gene Therapy Research Center, in which I worked as a research assistant. Based on my scientific experience in the field of biomedicine I found myself interested in inflammation, regenerative medicine and systems biology. In 2022, I joined Bernhagen research group and the CRC1123 ‘atherosclerosis’ as a PhD student, to work on discovering the role and mechanisms of new MIF family members in atherosclerosis. My PhD study is supported by a fellowship from the Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) of CRC1123 at LMU. In my spare time, I like doing yoga, mountain climbing, and reading. 

Simon Ebert, PhD student

I am originally from Augsburg, a lovely city near Munich. I first did an apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory assistant at ratiopharm Ulm. Following I obtained my B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry at LMU Munich, where I was furthermore admitted to the Deutschlandstipendium. Because of my interest in cardiovascular disease and inflammation, I performed my Master's Thesis in the Bernhagen Lab from April-September 2022 on a novel CD74 ligand and have started my PhD thesis on the role of chemokine receptor mimics and their utility in cardiovascular diseases in the end of 2022. During my spare time, I like to play ice hockey, go backcountry snowboarding, and cycling.

Noor Ismail, cand. med., MD doctoral student

Growing up in Stuttgart, I started studying medicine at LMU Munich in 2018. For my MD doctoral thesis, I joined the Bernhagen lab in 2022, supported by a FöFoLe fellowship of Munich Medical Research School (MMRS). During my time here, I will work on 2 subtypes of so-called new MIFs, aiming to characterize their role and mechanisms in atherosclerosis, applying in vitro cell models and tissue specimens from carotid plaques. Outside the lab, I like reading, enjoying time in nature, and traveling.

Michael Kobina Otabil, PhD student

Originally from Ghana, where I obtained a Bachelor in Biochemistry and Master in Pharmacology. I relocated to Munich, and enrolled in another master in Biochemistry studies at LMU, primarily to upgrade my research knowledge and skills in inflammation, ligand – receptor crosstalk and drug studies. I joined the Bernhagen research group for a practical course and master thesis. I am interested in studying the effect of MIF, an atypical chemokine and finding ways to modulate its receptor interactions helps to understand it chemotactic activity implicated in atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases, and also, how it signals through its receptor interaction.  

Elena Siminkovitch, cand. med., MD doctoral student

Originally from Bulgaria, I moved to Munich in 2017 to study Medicine at LMU Munich and joined the Bernhagen Lab in 2020 for my MD thesis which I pursue with a FöFoLe fellowship of Munich Medical Research School (MMRS). In my thesis I am focusing on MIF family proteins and their interactions with classical chemokines in the context of inflammation. Outside of the lab I like spending time with friends, riding my bike and hiking.

Carl-Christian Schäfer, cand. med., MD doctoral student

Growing up in the Frankfurt area, I moved to Munich to study Medicine in 2017. Now in my fourth year studying Medicine first at LMU and now TUM, I joined the Bernhagen Lab in March 2021 for my MD doctoral thesis. During my time here, I will work on the atypical cytokine MIF and its cognate receptor CD74 and its effect on T cells, in particular focusing on T-cell receptors. Outside of work, I like to spend time outdoors and do sports, such as tennis, hockey or soccer, or playing my guitar.