Dr. Stefanie Eyerich

Dr. Eyerich's research activity focuses on<strong> deciphering Th subsets and function in skin inflammatory and allergic diseases. The subsets are defined according to their production of lineage-type cytokines and functions. Dr. Eyerich has identified a new subset of human Th cells that infiltrate the epidermis in individuals with inflammatory skin disorders and is characterized by the secretion of IL-22 and TNF-alpha, but not IFN-gamma, IL-4, or IL-17. Dr. Eyerich's other scientific achievements include the identification of the role for Th17 cytokines in skin immunity in the orphan disease chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, as well as in atopic eczema, the proof of a causative role for T cells in atopic eczema and for the in vivo relevance of the cutaneous T cell composition in atopic eczema patients, and the description of the functional impact of T cell cytokines on epithelial cells in allergic asthma.

Dr. Eyerich has become a leading scientist in the field of T helper cell communication in skin allergic diseases such as psoriasis or atopic eczema. Her scientific contributions have brought the field of allergy research enormously forward, and her findings will help to develop new therapeutic strategies for these socioeconomic-relevant diseases.

Technical University and Helmholtz Center, Munich (Germany)