University of Münster

With 37.000 students the University of Münster is the 5th largest university of Germany. The research profile is marked by a considerable number of research focal points of proven excellence. Under the slogan „Focus on Human Beings – Research for Life“ intensive work is being done in numerous collaborative research centres."

Our Institute of Experimental musculoskeletal Medicine located at University Hospital Münster is an interdisciplinary institute which links clinical investigations to basic research. In different project groups, we study different molecular and biomechanical aspects of bone and joint diseases. In particular we focus on rheumatoid arthritis and therefore we cooperate closely with different hospitals.

We will analyze the epigenome of invasive RA-FLS versus osteoarthritic and normal synovial fibroblasts as well as fibroblasts exposed to stimuli known to be involved in the stable activation of these cells in RA. Further analysis will include functional studies on the identified epigenetic pathways both in vitro and in animal studies of chronic destructive arthritis as well as evaluation of their therapeutic potential.