Immunity and metabolism
Inflammatory processes, immune-cell function and biological barriers.
University Medicine Magdeburg
Led by: Prof. Dr. med. Johann Steiner
Understanding the biology of mental illness
At SASLAB, we investigate how the immune system, metabolism and the brain interact in schizophrenia and mood disorders. Clinical questions guide our research.
From clinical observations to testable explanations
Why do illness trajectories differ? Which biological changes accompany an acute episode, and which persist beyond it? What information might support more individualised care in the future? We connect well-characterised patient cohorts with studies of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue, alongside imaging and digital methods.
A central focus is biological variation within and across diagnoses. Whether a research finding adds value for individual patients must be established in independent studies.
Research areas
The immune system, metabolism and the brain
Autoimmune psychosis and CSF diagnostics
Neuronal antibodies, clinical context and differential diagnosis.
Biomarkers and illness trajectories
NfL, IGFBP2 and other candidates interpreted in their clinical context.
Glia and brain tissue
Microglia, tissue organisation and digital neuropathology.
Extracellular matrix
Brevican and molecular findings in serum and CSF.
Early detection and digital research
Psychosis risk, clinical trajectories and the ORAKEL study.
News
Immune-cell metabolism in schizophrenia
Our new study examines peripheral immune-cell energy metabolism in acute and stably treated schizophrenia.
Introducing ORAKEL
University Medicine presents our observational study into earlier identification of depressive relapse.
Publications
Recent and selected work
2026 · Journal article
Immune-cell metabolism in acute and stably treated schizophrenia
Peripheral immune-cell bioenergetics in acute and stable schizophrenia
2026 · Review
Microglia and the kynurenine pathway across diagnoses
Multimodal microglial and kynurenine pathway alterations across the affective-psychosis spectrum: a systematic review of patterns, heterogeneity, and dimensional implications
2026 · Journal article
Connecting brain and blood: the PRONIA study
Multivariate Brain-Blood Signatures in Early-Stage Depression and Psychosis
2025 · Review
Blood leukocyte subpopulations in schizophrenia
Differences in Blood Leukocyte Subpopulations in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Projects and care
Research in clinical collaboration
ORAKEL investigates depressive relapse. Within DZPG, we collaborate on neuroimmune research. FeTZ connects psychosis early detection with clinical support.