Research Group Fries has pioneered molecular based understanding of Endotlhelin-1 signaling in renal pathophysiology of chronic renal disease and renal cell carcinoma. The current research focuses on the role of microRNAs in inflammatory and nephrotoxic signaling as well as renal tumor biology. 

Dr. Fries’s research work resulted in new insights in the function of microRNAs (microRNA - induced protein truncation via DNA binding), their respective signalling pathways as well as the new roles of the created functional proteins in a variety of pathophysiologic processes. A particular interest lies in the development of methods for the detection of microRNAs as diagnostic tools in liquid biopsies, especially from the urine.