Immune-mediated glomerular diseases (Glomerulonephritides, GN) are a major and constantly increasing cause of end-stage renal diseases  worldwide and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Fundamental to each form of GN is a pathogenic immune response against renal autoantigens or the local manifestations of systemic autoimmunity in the kidney, resulting in glomerular injury, proteinuria and various degrees of renal functional decline. Current therapeutic strategies usually aim at broadly suppressing the immune system, often do not halt or reverse the disease and are frequently associated with disabling side effects.
We have established the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1192 to dissect immune-mediated glomerular diseases at the molecular, cellular, systemic and individual level to ultimately bridge the translational gap between experimental studies and improved patient outcomes within the 12-year funding perspective and beyond.
Over the past eight years, this CRC has fundamentally shifted the understanding of various immune-mediated glomerular diseases such as membranous nephropathy (MN), rapidly progressive GN, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and complement-mediated glomerular disease.
Moreover, on the basis of MN, a first blueprint of how to close translational circles was established. From the discovery of novel MN antigens, to generating reliable MN animal models, to proofing the pathogenicity of MN autoantibodies, to establishing autoantibody-biomarker directed clinical workflows and to adjust the international clinical guidelines, this CRC has improved the patient outcome and safety for MN as the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Following our overarching aim of deepening a highly resolved mechanistic understanding as basis to enable an individualized risk prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of immunemediated glomerular disease, this CRC will continue to cluster leading experts in clinical and experimental nephrology, nephropathology, basic and translational immunology, digital science and machine learning. Furthermore, the CRC KIDNEY RESEARCH ACADEMY (RISE) will ensure the consistent training, education, career acceleration and inclusion of emerging and diverse kidney researchers.
Combined with the CRC Hamburg Glomerulonephritis Registry, novel technological platforms and experimental model systems, the CRC 1192 will remain an international catalyst towards pathogenesis-based and individualized treatment approaches in the field of immune-mediated glomerular diseases.