Constanze Jakwerth

Constanze Jakwerth serves as Group Leader of the Airway Immunology Research Group at Helmholtz Munich's Institute of Allergy Research (IAF), holding the academic rank of Privatdozent (equivalent to Associate Professor) through the Technical University of Munich. Her work investigates epithelial barrier leakage in allergic diseases and environmental impacts on rising allergy incidence amid climate change.

Her educational background includes molecular medicine studies across Freiburg, Providence (RI), and Harvard Medical School, followed by a PhD in Hematooncology from Technical University of Munich focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukemia pathogenesis. Key professional milestones feature postdoctoral work at ZAUM since 2015, Deputy Group Leadership since 2022, and ongoing habilitation in Molecular Immunology at TUM.

Research centers on airway immunology mechanisms where environmental triggers (allergens, viruses, pollutants) interact with epithelial barriers to drive diseases like asthma and allergic rhinitis. She examines epithelial-immune cell cross-talk involving T cells and macrophages, Th1/Th2 mediator effects, and biomarker identification for allergic inflammation. A major focus involves allergen-specific immunotherapy's impact on epithelial barriers using advanced 3D-culture models.

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal strong translational focus across asthma biomarker discovery, SARS-CoV-2 hepatic pathogenesis, and immunotherapy response monitoring. These works leverage high-dimensional techniques including single-cell RNA-sequencing and 40-color flow cytometry to dissect disease mechanisms at cellular resolution.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Helmholtz Munich Best Paper Award (2024)
• EAACI Congress oral presentation prize (2023)
• DZL Annual Meeting poster prize (2023)
• IFIR Young Investigator Award (2009)
• Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes scholarships (2007-2010, 2008)

Dr. Jakwerth actively mentors young scientists in translational research while advocating for clinic-basic research integration. Her work receives institutional support through German Center for Lung Research (DZL) frameworks and Helmholtz Munich resources, though specific grants aren't detailed in source materials.

She leads the Airway Immunology Group within Helmholtz Munich's IAF, operating through the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) joint venture with TUM. The team employs primary organotypic 3D-cultures, 40-color flow cytometry, and single-cell sequencing to model airway disease mechanisms under environmental stressors.