The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved continued funding for Research Unit RU 5068, Sex Differences in Immunity, for a second four-year phase from 2025 to 2029. This decision follows a successful evaluation of the unit’s achievements in investigating how biological sex influences immune responses.

RU 5068 aims to move beyond acknowledging sex-based differences by uncovering the mechanisms driving sex-specific immune reactions to both self and foreign challenges. Among the projects within the unit is Project P9: Sex-specific differences in immunity and infection – an integrative approach, which was carried out by the Institute for Medical Systems Biology (IMSB).

IMSB has played an important role in this effort by integrating consortium-wide datasets into its data platform, developing novel analytical methods, and contributing to joint data analyses. Our contribution to the research unit included several key achievements. We conducted in-depth analyses of sex-specific patterns in autoimmune diseases, focusing on conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Additionally, we developed NichePCA, an innovative algorithm designed to dissect sex-specific cellular interactions. We also performed comprehensive long- and short-read sequencing analyses of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), providing new insights into sex-specific gene silencing mechanisms.

These efforts have led to the publication of ten peer-reviewed articles in collaboration with consortium partners.

We are honored by the DFG’s recognition and the opportunity to continue advancing this important research. Congratulations to all teams involved—we look forward to the next chapter in exploring sex-based immunity.