Our research focuses on mesenchymal and stromal cells and their role in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our work concentrates on how persistent inflammation drives pathological tissue remodeling and leads to irreversible fibrotic changes.
After my PhD at the Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine (IMM) in Münster, where I investigated epigenetic changes in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). During this fellowship, I studied the regulatory role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. Since 2025, I’m leading the FibroPath group at the IMM, which aims to identify new molecular targets for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. We apply a multidisciplinary approach combining advanced imaging techniques, functional 3D culture systems and transcriptomic analyses to elucidate key signaling pathways and cellular interactions in inflamed tissues.
Our vision is to translate mechanistic insights into innovative therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for fibrotic diseases, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical application.
