The focus of research are the immunological consequences of operative trauma and their recognition and regulation in postoperative dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. The group described and elucidated the immunological pathomechanism of postoperative ileus. Furthermore, the group found that the gastrointestinal field effect - a panenteric inflammation following localized abdominal surgery - is mediated by an immunological response involving resident intestinal macrophages, mesenteric dendritic cells and memory TH1 cells.