Research themes

  • Structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and how the extracellular matrix impacts on developmental processes and pathological processes such as neuroinflammation and diabetes
  • Impact of the ECM on growth factor gradients
  • Cell-ECM receptors (integrins) and intracellular signallying pathways
  • Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions
  • Endothelial cell & vascular biology
  • Intracellular protein sorting

External Funding

  • German Research Foundation funded (DFG) 'Cells-in-Motion' Cluster of Excellence
  • Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF)
  • DFG funded Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1009 'Breaking Barriers'
  • DFG funded CRC 128 'Multiple Sclerosis'  
  • Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)- SmArt
  • Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)- SmArtER
  • Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN)- Neuroinflammation
  • DFG- funded International Graduate School (GRK) 1549 ' Molecular and Cellular Glyco-Research: Understanding Structure-Function Relationships in Carbohydrate-Protein Interactions'