With over 270 degree programs, FAU is among the 15 largest and leading universities for research in Germany. Over 6,000 employees and more than 39,000 students promote a culture of innovation, diversity and passion.
Get to know our newly-appointed professors who are driving forward research with their fresh ideas and creative approaches. Find out more about the people behind our research projects and their career paths, visions, and motivation for a successful academic future.
Prof. Dr. Louisa Steines – Professorship for Renal Immunology
As a child, she wanted to become an archaeologist, an actor or a jungle explorer – Louisa Steines introduces herself.
What is your main area of research?
We focus on the role of special T and B lymphocytes in organ transplants and autoimmune diseases involving the kidneys. My passion is transplant medicine.
Why did you choose this topic?
Internal medicine often involves treating people with chronic diseases. Frequently, we can only slow the progression of diseases, but not reverse them. For people with terminal kidney failure, who are usually dialysis patients, or people suffering failure of other organs, such as heart, lung or liver failure, a kidney transplant can be the gift of a new lease of life. These people’s stories are extremely moving. The science behind transplant immunology is extremely fascinating as well. As a rule, kidney transplants only remain effective for approximately 10 years, as the body’s immune cells attack the foreign organ. What ingenious methods can we use to trick the immune system into preventing it from rejecting the donor organ? Our focus is on certain T and B lymphocytes and how we can use drugs to manipulate them and prevent the formation of antibodies against the transplant. For me, transplant medicine is simply the best specialization there is.
Where were you before coming to FAU?
I have been working as a nephrologist and clinician scientist at the Department of Nephrology at Universitätsklinikum Regensburg for the last 12 years.
Where did you study and what subjects?
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from University College London. After that, I studied medicine in Göttingen and at TU München. My doctoral degree at the Institute of Immunology in Heidelberg had a particularly formative impact on me and strengthened my interest in immunology.
Which events and activities would you like to take part in in Erlangen and the surroundings?
I really like Erlangen and I hope to discover more over time.
What is your most useful tool as a professor?
Pubmed and other research platforms.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Several different things. I wanted to be an archaeologist, an actor or a jungle explorer.
Do you have a role model? If so, did they influence your academic or professional career?
I have had several role models and mentors in my career who have taught me a lot. I have always been impressed by strong women who have made a name for themselves. And my husband with his unwavering optimism, I love him and admire him for that.
Have you got any hidden talents?
I have a visual memory and am good at finding things.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do?
Travel…. For instance, when I was younger I wanted to travel to Timbuktu.