Prof. Dr. H.U. (Hans Ulrich) Scherer, MD PhD

I was appointed full professor in the Department of Rheumatology at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in 2023. I trained as an internist rheumatologist at the Charité, the academic hospital of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, and at the LUMC. My research focuses on understanding the immunological processes underlying the development and chronicity of autoimmune diseases. The specific focus addresses the biology of the B cell. B cells are central to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and various forms of vasculitis. In this regard, I have a bridging function between the basic research of our department and the clinic. By studying the biology of B cells in the various stages of disease, we come to new insights that we translate back into new applications and therapies for patients.

Autoimmune diseases (AID) are chronic conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Many AIDs are caused by dysregulated B cells. These B cells deviate from their normal function (protection) and turn against the patient’s own body. Today, it is possible to remove B cells from the body. As a result, the activity of AID often decreases. However, this therapy also affects protective B cells while the fraction of abnormal B cells is in fact very small. In my research, we developed a method to specifically detect the aberrant B cells in the blood of patients with AID which allows us to examine their properties. This allows us to understand why B cells derail, how they cause and maintain disease, and how only derailed B cells could be removed. My research is embedded in the Immunity theme of the LUMC and is supported in part by grants from ZonMW (VENI, VIDI, OffRoad) and the Dutch Arthritis Foundation. I received the EULAR Young Investigator Award in 2010 and the Marie-Paris Prize in 2019.