Klein Lab

Sjögren`s disease is an understudied autoimmune disease with huge unmet clinical needs and no approved therapies. The hallmark of Sjögren`s disease is a severe dryness of mucosal surfaces, provoked by chronic inflammation of exocrine glands, in particular salivary and lacrimal glands. Systemic manifestations occur in 30 to 40% of patients with Sjögren`s disease, and can affect all organs, including the lung. Major challenges in drug development and clinical management are patient heterogeneity and lack of knowledge regarding underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We follow a multi-OMICS approach using human biosamples, complemented with in vitro disease models. The aim of our translational projects is the generation of comprehensive pre-clinical data sets underlying Sjögren`s disease to pave the way towards a personalized medicine and a better care for patients in the future.