Florian Tran

Professor Florian Tran is a leading academic researcher and Clinician Scientist at Kiel University, serving as Group Leader of Translational and Molecular Gastroenterology at the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB). He holds dual appointments within the I. Medical Department of the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) and Kiel University, where he bridges clinical practice with cutting-edge molecular research.

As a physician-scientist specializing in internal medicine, Tran completed his dissertation at Kiel University in 2019 and has since established himself as a key contributor to the Cluster of Excellence 'Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation.' His research primarily focuses on understanding disease mechanisms in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the molecular level, with particular emphasis on autophagy processes in the intestinal epithelium and the molecular basis of therapy response.

Tran's research interests span several interconnected domains: autophagy as an immune mechanism in the intestinal epithelium utilizing stem cell-based disease models; mechanisms of therapy response and molecular therapy guidance in IBD; and molecular characterization of rare/monogenic immune disorders such as very early-onset IBD (veoIBD). His lab employs advanced techniques including tissue- and iPSC-derived intestinal organoid culturing systems to investigate these questions.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on host-microbiome interactions, immunometabolism (particularly tryptophan and serine metabolism), and the development of precision medicine approaches for inflammatory conditions. His work frequently employs multi-omics approaches, spatial analysis, and advanced ex vivo models to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression and treatment response.

Tran actively collaborates with major research groups at Kiel University, including those led by Stefan Schreiber and Philip Rosenstiel, and participates in large-scale longitudinal cohorts of IBD patients undergoing advanced therapies. His lab vision centers on deciphering the molecular fingerprint of IBD to enable truly personalized treatment approaches based on individual molecular profiles rather than symptom-based management alone.