Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Kiel University (CAU) is Schleswig-Holstein’s only full university, focusing on four research priorities that address global challenges: Marine Science, Life Science, Societal and Cultural Change, and Nano Science. With around 800 funded projects and strong partnerships, CAU combines significant research output with great future potential.
The Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) in Kiel, Germany, is a leading center for translational biomedical research with a strong focus on chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Founded in 2006 as part of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Kiel University (CAU), the IKMB combines cutting-edge molecular biology research with clinical expertise to enable personalized medicine and precision health. The institute brings together multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and systems immunologists to investigate the genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors driving chronic inflammation. Its research infrastructure includes facilities for next-generation sequencing, single-cell technologies, and high-throughput biomarker analysis.
With a longstanding commitment to large-scale cohort studies and international collaborations, the IKMB plays a central role in several European research initiatives. It has contributed significantly to the discovery of genetic risk factors and molecular disease mechanisms in CIDs and supports the development of novel diagnostics and targeted therapies. Overall, IKMB aims to improve early detection, disease prediction, and individualized treatment strategies. As a coordinating institution in PerPrev-CID, the IKMB provides expertise in molecular diagnostics, therapy and precision prevention for CID research.
Role within PerPrev-CID
Kiel University (CAU) is affiliated with the coordinating institution, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH). As project coordinator, IKMB at UKSH leads the overall management and integration of clinical and molecular research activities. They are responsible for generating and analysing high-resolution methylome data, alongside transcriptomic and microbiome profiling in at-risk cohorts for chronic inflammatory diseases. A key role includes designing and conducting a clinical nutrition intervention trial with nicotinamide with all other clinical partners, complemented by a dense, home-based longitudinal sampling cohort. These efforts aim to uncover early molecular signatures of disease onset and progression. By linking environmental, nutritional, and molecular factors, UKSH drives the project’s translational goals toward personalized prevention and early diagnostics in chronic inflammation.
