Michael Bonelli, Associate Professor and Rheumatologist (MD) is a Principal Investigator at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation and the Division of Rheumatology at the Medical University of Vienna (since 2021 and 2015).

During his research fellowship (2011-2014) in the laboratory of Dr. John O´Shea at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) he addressed the importance of epigenetic modifications for the identification and stability of regulatory T cells under steady state and inflammatory conditions.

After his return, he became Associate Professor at the Division of Rheumatology at the Medical University of Vienna. He established a research group, which aims to address the importance of epigenetic modifications of T cells for the pathogenesis of T cell mediated autoimmune diseases. He received several grants and awards from the Austrian Science Fund and Austrian National Bank.

As a research assistant and lab manager, I combine hands-on experimentation with managerial responsibilities. I conduct wet lab work and provide key support to PhD students in their research projects. Additionally, I ensure smooth lab operations by coordinating logistics, resources, and schedules.

My role bridges scientific research and operational support, helping drive our lab’s innovative work in the field of rheumatology.

I coordinate projects in the field of autoimmunological diseases, with a primary focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of my project is dedicated to deciphering the precise mode of action of methotrexate, a common drug in the treatment of RA.

Despite the proven efficacy of methotrexate, many RA patients still fail to achieve the desired treatment response. My second project therefore aims to find new therapeutic approaches for RA by investigating the potential of epigenetically active therapeutic molecules.

Finally, my third project tackles more broadly the development of T cells in RA and their contribution to its pathogenesis.

Regulatory T cells control a large array of immune responses which rely on their capacity to adapt to their local environment. Acquisition of specific transcription factors is thereby necessary to control distinct disease settings.

I am interested in describing the transcription factor NFIL3 and its potential role for Treg development and function.

Epigenetic processes are involved in a variety of immune responses. We are investigating whether novel drugs that inhibit epigenetically active enzymes have the potential to counteract a dysregulated immune system as found in autoimmune diseases.

As a systems biologist in the field of immunology, I aim to understand the overall effects of these novel compounds I employ OMICs methods, including single-cell sequencing and spectral flow cytometry, to achieve this understanding.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that can lead to pain and joint damage in affected patients. The interaction between fibroblasts of the synovial tissue and infiltrating immune cells is suspected to drive this inflammation.

I am investigating the cell-cell interaction between fibroblasts and immune cells using primary cell culture-based models of synovium and their impact on disease progression. I use high-content microscopy, RNA-sequencing and spectral flow cytometry.

Supervised by Marie Brinkmann