The biochemist Christoph Reinhardt received his PhD in human biology from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich. His research focused on the pathomechanisms of immunothrombosis, a central function of the innate immune system in microcirculation, which prevents the systemic spread of invasive microorganisms in the event of infection by activating plasmatic coagulation. During his post-doctoral work as EU Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular Research at the University of Gothenburg, he investigated the role of the intestinal microbiome and the signaling mechanisms induced by coagulation factors that promote vascularization of the small intestine. In order to decipher vascular microbiota-host interactions, Christoph Reinhardt established germ-free mouse isolator technology (gnotobiotics) as part of his junior professorship at the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) at the University Medical Center Mainz. He uses this technology to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that act on the vascular system through the microbial colonization of body surfaces and thus influence the development of cardiovascular diseases. His research group was able to show for the first time that the microbiome promotes arterial thrombus formation. As a GRC fellow, he will continue to develop this research area, an innovative conceptual link between immunology and vascular biology, at JGU.