Several new clinical therapies target the immune system to reduce unwanted inflammation. We aim at translating the chemistry and physics of large biomolecules studied by means of nanoscience into clinical utility. 

The immune system comprises several cellular and molecular components involved in defending the body against infections and cancer. When acting as a protecting “inner army”, these mechanisms are of considerable benefit. It is now clear that the immune system is also capable of provoking diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and diabetes. Molecules engaged in functions of the immune system are often rather large, reaching 40-50 nm. Nanoscience enables descriptions of how these large molecules perform their duties in the line of defending the body or cause havoc when the immune system rebels against appropriate control. Ultimately, this insight is helpful to understand disease mechanisms and develop new strategies for treating diseases. The Biophysical Immunology Laboratory, led by Prof. Thomas Vorup-Jensen and Laboratory Manager Bettina W. Grumsen, works to understand the immune system in the perspective of protein ultrastructure and the nanoscience of the immune system.

We work to define the clinical utility of our research in a translational effort to make our research attractive for pharmaceutical development.