Our Aim
The new Systems Neuroimmunology Laboratory, opening in early 2026, aims to identify and characterize clinically relevant immune cell states and molecular pathways driving neuroimmunological diseases. By integrating human biomedical research with artificial intelligence (AI), we seek to translate complex molecular data into clinically meaningful insights, improving diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. As an interdisciplinary team of biologists, clinicians, and data scientists we will collaboratively tackle fundamental questions in neuroimmunology.
Our Approach
Our laboratory integrates careful selection of patient cohorts, experimental designs, and computational analyses as interconnected components, explicitly tailored for AI-driven interpretation of biology. We customize high-resolution methods such as single-cell multiomics, spatial transcriptomics, and immune profiling assays to make complex molecular disease processes digitally accessible and comprehensible. This strategy allows us to apply AI to connect molecular signatures to clinical outcomes, helping identify disease mechanisms with potential clinical significance.
5 key papers
Attfield KE, Jensen LT, Kaufmann M, Friese MA and Fugger L. The immunology of multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Immunol. 1–17. 2022.
Kaufmann M, Schaupp AL, Sun R, Coscia F, Dendrou CA, Cortes A, Kaur G, Evans HG, Mollbrink A, Navarro JF, Sonner JK, Mayer C, DeLuca GC, Lundeberg J, Matthews PM, Attfield KE, Friese MA, Mann M and Fugger L. Identification of early neurodegenerative pathways leading to progressive multiple sclerosis. Nat Neurosci. Jul;25(7):944-955. 2022.
Kaufmann M, Evans HG, Schaupp AL, Engler JB, Kaur G, Willing A, Kursawe N, Schubert C, Attfield KE, Fugger L and Friese MA. Identifying CNS-colonizing T cells as potential therapeutic targets to prevent progression of multiple sclerosis. Med 2 296-312.e8. 2021.
Schirmer L, Velmeshev D, Holmqvist S, Kaufmann M, Werneburg S, Jung D, Vistnes S, Stockley JH, Young A, Steindel M, Tung B, Goyal N, Bhaduri A, Mayer S, Engler JB, Franklin RJM, Haeussler M, Reynolds R, Schafer DP, Friese MA, Shiow LR, Kriegstein AR, Rowitch DH. Neuronal vulnerability and multilineage diversity in multiple sclerosis. Nature 573, 75–82. 2019.
Schreurs RRCE, Baumdick ME, Sagebiel AF, Kaufmann M, Mokry M, Klarenbeek PL, Schaltenberg N, Steinert FL, van Rijn JM, Drewniak A, The S-MML, Bakx R, Derikx JPM, de Vries N, Corpeleijn WE, Pals ST, Gagliani N, Friese MA, Middendorp S, Nieuwenhuis EES, Reinshagen K, Geijtenbeek TBH, van Goudoever JB, Bunders MJ. Human Fetal TNF-α-Cytokine-Producing CD4+ Effector Memory T Cells Promote Intestinal Development and Mediate Inflammation Early in Life. Immunity 50, 462-476.e8. 2019.
Dr. med Dr. rer. biol. hum. Max Kaufmann, Master of Information and Data Science
I am a neurologist, neuroimmunologist, and data scientist with a strong interest in applying computational methods to better understand neuroimmunological diseases. As a physician, I am counseling and treating patients with neuroimmunologic diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). These direct encounters shape a research vision that is guided by both the promise and the limitations of existing treatments, steering me toward projects that could eventually be translated into meaningful clinical benefits. I am enthusiastic about the potential of computational science, especially the concept of “digital experiments”—where sufficient data collected from human samples might enable the decoding of biological processes within a computational environment. I believe that the newest developments in AI, combined with the increasing throughput and cost-effectiveness of omics technologies, will be an important catalyst for that vision to become reality. In line with this, I have been an early adopter of technologies such as single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, first at the University Medical Center Hamburg and later at Oxford University. At UC Berkeley, I expanded my expertise in data science through comprehensive training in artificial intelligence methods. As I establish the Systems Neuroimmunology Laboratory at LMU Munich, I look forward to building a collaborative, interdisciplinary team driven by curiosity and creativity, aiming to contribute meaningfully toward improved patient care.
Training
2008-2015 Medical Studies, RWTH Aachen University
2012-2015 Dissertation in Medicine: The mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase ARTD10 in mitosis: Interplay with mitotic kinases, RTWH Aachen University, Germany, Prof. Lüscher
2017-2022 Dissertation in Neuroimmunology: Dissecting pathogenic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis at the single cell level, Hamburg University, Germany, Prof. Friese
2022 – 2024 Master of Information and Data Science program, UC Berkeley, online
Academic positions & appointments
2016 – 2025 Resident physician, Department of Neurology, Prof. Gerloff / Prof. Magnus / Prof. Thomalla, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
2016 – 2025 Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, Prof. Friese, Hamburg, Germany.
2021 – 2025 Postdoctoral Researcher, Oxford Centre for Neuroinflammation, Prof. Fugger, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Oxford, United Kingdom. Honorary contract, remote work from Germany.
Starting 2026 (designated) W2 professor of Systems Neuroimmunology, LMU, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy).
Awards & honors
2010 – 2014 Scholar of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes)
2010 – 2015 Dean’s list of highest ranking students at RWTH Aachen University
2012 – 2013 Mildred Scheel Scholar of the German Cancer Aid
2014 Travel scholarship of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation for an elective at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London
2015 Scholarship of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation Stipendium for the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
2016 Springorium Medal 2016 (Springorium Denkmünze), RWTH Aachen University
2019 – 2021 Multiple Sclerosis Clinician Scientist Scholarship, Stifterverband
2021 – 2023 Walter Benjamin programme of the German Research Foundation – DFG
2022 Dr. Martini Award 2022
2023 Fellow of the Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience
2023 Sobek young talent award 2023 (Sobek Nachwuchspreis)
