Immunology research team
Prof. Dr. Tímea Berki
Group activities
The aim of the research group is to investigate the immunological differences underlying infertility and habitual miscarriage in the young (20-40 years old) Hungarian female population. The basic question of our work is: what is the relationship between tolerance to self-structures and immunological imbalance in the development of autoimmune diseases and infertility and habitual abortion? Is it possible that a similar immune reaction against the own
and fetal structures underlies maternal reproductive dysfunction as that which leads to the development of autoimmune diseases?
To do this, the research team will simultaneously perform routine diagnostic tests on well-selected clinical patient samples to determine the role of pathological and natural autoantibodies, and measure cytokines and vascular biomarkers using multiplex methods. In parallel, mechanisms responsible for B cell activation and autoantibody production, signal transduction pathways and phenotypic analysis are performed.
The availability of an ISO-accredited routine laboratory and the combined efforts of a senior team and young PhD students conducting parallel research make this the only working group in the country that has the necessary and internationally recognised standard for the investigation of the autoimmune background of reproductive disorders.
