Who Are We?
The Translational Pruritus Research is a research group funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). The research group is composed of scientists and experts in the field of pruritus research in Germany with different specialties, including dermatology, neurophysiology, anesthesiology, neurology, gastroenterology and radiology:
The project heads are Martin Schmelz of the University of Heidelberg (speaker of the research group) and Sonja Ständer of the University of Münster (deputy speaker of the research group).
Chronic pruritus (AKA chronic itch) is a major clinical complaint not only associated with various dermatological diseases, but also prevalent cholestasis and renal failure, diabetes, lymphoma, cancer and anti-cancer therapy, neurological and psychiatric diseases. It has a high prevalence in the middle-aged and elderly populations.
To this day, target-specific therapies are still missing.
Patients worldwide still suffer from this symptom that severely impacts their quality of life. Most forms of chronic itch are difficult to treat. Complications have always arisen regarding the development of targeted therapies due to a lack of pathophysiological concepts and knowledge on specific itch mediators.
With this initiative, we hope to unravel the mysteries behind the novel mechanisms of itch and its association with pain and to identify new treatment targets.
Ultimately, our project will contribute to our knowledge of the most promising mechanism-based therapeutic targets for chronic itch.
Chronic pruritus (AKA chronic itch) is a major clinical complaint not only associated with various dermatological diseases, but also prevalent cholestasis and renal failure, diabetes, lymphoma, cancer and anti-cancer therapy, neurological and psychiatric diseases. It has a high prevalence in the middle-aged and elderly populations.
To this day, target-specific therapies are still missing.
Patients worldwide still suffer from this symptom that severely impacts their quality of life. Most forms of chronic itch are difficult to treat. Complications have always arisen regarding the development of targeted therapies due to a lack of pathophysiological concepts and knowledge on specific itch mediators.
With this initiative, we hope to unravel the mysteries behind the novel mechanisms of itch and its association with pain and to identify new treatment targets.
Ultimately, our project will contribute to our knowledge of the most promising mechanism-based therapeutic targets for chronic itch.
Experts Involved in the Collaborative Research Group:
Name |
Institution |
Expertise |
Prof. Martin Schmelz |
Heidelberg University |
Pain Research |
Prof. Roman Rukwied |
Heidelberg University |
Pain Research |
Dr. Walter Magerl |
Heidelberg University |
Neurophysiology |
Prof. Matthias Ringkamp |
Heidelberg University/ Johns Hopkins University |
Anesthesiology |
Prof. Sonja Ständer |
Münster University |
Dermatology |
Dr. Konstantin Agelopoulos |
Münster University |
Biology |
Prof. Esther Pogatzki-Zahn |
Münster University |
Anesthesiology |
Prof. Bettina Pfleiderer |
Münster University |
Radiology |
Dr. Philipp Bruland |
Münster University |
Informatics |
Prof. Martin Dugas |
Münster University |
Informatics |
Prof. Claudia Sommer |
Würzburg University |
Neurology |
Prof. Frank Birklein |
Mainz University |
Neurology |
Prof. Bernhard Homey |
Düsseldorf University |
Dermatology |
Prof. Ulrike Raap |
Oldenburg University |
Dermatology |
Dr. Andeas Kremer |
Erlangen University |
Internal Medicine |
Prof. Peter Reeh |
Erlangen University |
Neurophysiology |
Prof. Clemens Forster |
Erlangen University |
Neurophysiology |
Prof. Hermann Handwerker |
Erlangen University |
Neurophysiology |
Prof. Arnd Dörfler |
Erlangen University |
Neuroradiology |
Dr. Barbara Namer |
Erlangen University |
Physiology |