About Oskar

Oskar Staufer’s career in scientific research exemplifies a dedicated pursuit of knowledge at the intersection of material science and immunology. With a strong academic foundation from Heidelberg University and a PhD in Biology from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, he has continually sought to bridge disciplines in his work. His postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow allowed him to further investigate immunotherapy, setting the stage for his current role at INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials.

Since joining INM in 2022 as an independent researcher within the Pharmaceutical Research Alliance Saarland (PRAS), Oskar has focused on immuno-materials—materials designed to interact with the immune system in a controlled manner. His work aims to harness these materials to either stimulate immune responses, which could be useful for therapies, or to suppress them in cases where immune rejection needs to be minimized. This interdisciplinary approach combines material science with immunology to address complex biomedical challenges.

After completing his postdoctoral training, Oskar sought an environment that combined state-of-the-art infrastructure with expertise in biomaterial design and a strong network in immunology-focused materials research. He found this at INM, where he gained the scientific freedom to pursue his ideas while also receiving the resources and institutional support to establish his own research group. This foundation enabled him to secure competitive funding, build a collaborative network at local, national, and international levels, and further develop his expertise as an independent scientist. While his research is driven by fundamental insights into immune regulation, it also has strong translational potential. INM’s technology transfer infrastructure provides crucial support in bridging the gap between discovery and application, helping to transform innovations from the immuno-materials group into tangible products that could benefit patients worldwide.

Oskar’s research seeks to develop a toolbox of materials that mimic immune system functions. By understanding the interplay between biochemical and biophysical factors in immune regulation, his work has the potential to contribute to more effective treatments for diseases such as cancer. While the scope of this research is ambitious, INM provides an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation, supporting progress in this emerging field.

With a long-term vision of advancing immuno-materials as both therapeutic tools and investigative instruments in immunology, Oskar is committed to furthering scientific knowledge in this domain. His work not only deepens our understanding of immune system interactions but also paves the way for novel applications in medicine. His contributions at INM reflect the institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and its role in addressing pressing biomedical challenges.

If you want to learn more about Oskar’s research, visit his group page