Petra Arck

Prof. Dr. Petra Arck is a Professor of Medicine and leads a research group at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine. Her work is centered on reproductive immunology, with a focus on maternal-fetal immune interactions, microchimerism, and the influence of environmental factors on pregnancy outcomes.

Research Interests:

• Maternal-fetal immune tolerance
• Regulatory T cells in pregnancy
• Microchimerism and long-term offspring health
• Impact of climate change and infections (e.g., COVID-19) on pregnancy
• Placental immunology and extracellular vesicles
• Prenatal programming of immunity and metabolism

Her recent publications (2024–2025) span high-impact areas such as the immunological consequences of COVID-19 in pregnancy, the role of microchimerism in immune memory, and the use of placental biomarkers for predicting preterm birth and childhood respiratory diseases. These studies reflect a strong translational focus, bridging basic immunology with clinical obstetrics and pediatrics.

Editorial and Academic Service:

• Editorial board member, Seminars in Immunopathology
• Editorial board member, Journal of Reproductive Immunology

Prof. Arck is actively engaged in mentoring doctoral candidates and participates in national and international research collaborations, particularly within the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf’s research networks in immunology, neuroscience, and reproductive health.