People

As head of the Exercise Immunology and Health Promotion Laboratory, Christian Puta is guided by the conviction that physical activity is one of the most powerful and universally accessible modulators of immune function, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. The laboratory translates mechanistic insights from exercise immunology into evidence-based strategies that empower individuals — from healthy populations to those recovering from infection or managing infection-associated chronic illness.
Christian Puta’s research investigates the immunological and physiological consequences of exercise and infection, with a particular focus on post-exercise recovery processes. A central aim is the development of models describing dysregulated immunological and metabolic recovery — including post-exertional malaise (PEM) as a defining feature of infection-associated chronic illness such as Long COVID and ME/CFS. Building on wearable sensor technology and standardised exercise testing, he develops monitoring and rehabilitation strategies that account for individual immune phenotypes and the risk of exertion-induced symptom exacerbation.

Bio:

• Venia Legendi in Sport Science, Sports Medicine & Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (12/2017)
• Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Occupational Diseases (03/2019)
• Member of the Center of Sepsis Control and Care, University Hospital Jena (08/2023)
• Award of the title apl. Prof. for Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (08/2023)
• Interim Director, Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (04/2024)
• Affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Jena (since 05/2024)
• Corporate academic status of an appointed professor, Department of Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (02/2025)
• Member Medical Faculty Council, University Hospital Jena (04/2025)

Documentation and analysis of behavioral, medical and sport science data.

Short biography to be added.

Master’s student in sports science and student assistant. Currently working on the development of an algorithm for the sonographic quantification of exercise-induced muscle damage (e.g. muscle fiber tears) and subsequent recovery processes. The aim of the work is to improve sports medicine musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostics and return-to-play decision-making. Also engaged in teaching within the department.

Data scientist with a background in computer science. Works on data-driven approaches to better understand the immunological mechanisms underlying post-exertional malaise and postural orthostatic dysregulation in infection associated chronic illness (e.g. Long COVID), using wearable-based methods to analyze vital data (sleep, heart rate and physical activity). Also develops digital tools for teaching and practice (educational dashboards), including the Immunenotes apps (Shiny-based webapps).

Exercise scientist specializing in exercise immunology. As a PhD researcher at German Sport University Cologne, she investigates the acute and chronic effects of exercise on immune cells and exerkines, with a focus on genetic, epigenetic, and physiological adaptations. Her work combines advanced immunological laboratory techniques to better understand how exercise influences the immune system in both healthy individuals and clinical populations, including post-COVID condition, depression, and obesity.

Sport scientist working on the development and analysis of clinical databases of patients with post-infectious conditions. Contributes to the phenotyping of ME/CFS and Long COVID using physiological and immunological data. Also has practical experience in orthopedic rehabilitation, including knee and hip replacement and ACL reconstruction, with a focus on return-to-sport testing.

Sport scientist and medical student. Simon received his PhD from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena exploring pathophysiological aspects of post-acute infection syndromes (e.g. Long COVID, ME/CFS) in the context of the immunobiology of physical exercise. He is currently following up on this research at the Department of Internal Medicine IV with particular focus on post-exertional symptom exacerbations (i.e. PEM).

Short biography to be added.

Short biography to be added.

Postdoctoral Researcher at the University Hospital Jena, leading the educational component of the SYNOSYS.PC project (since 2025). His work focuses on bridging the gap between theory and clinical practice, specifically designing knowledge transfer for both patients and physicians. Previously, he was a research associate at the Chair of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion (2016–2025) within the KINGS project. PhD (Dr. phil.) awarded in 2022. Research focus: immunological monitoring of exercise-induced stress and recovery, and evidence-based implementation in healthcare.

Nutritional scientist specializing in sports medicine. Works on the characterization of immune-metabolic stress responses induced by anaerobic exercise, using the 1-minute sit-to-stand test as a standardized exercise test and capillary blood analyses. Focuses on immune cell dynamics, composite immune-stress indices, and alterations in lactate, glucose, and trace element concentrations.