Etiology, Pathogenesis & Animal Models of Rheumatic Disease

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Since 2008 Director of the Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Münster

EDUCATION:
• 2004 Habilitation, Medical Faculty, University of Zürich
• 1996 Approbation
• 1995 Medical degree 'Dr med', University of Magdeburg
• 1994-1996 Resident, Department of Rheumatology, University of Magdeburg
• 1994 Praktisches Jahr (PJ) an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg (Innere Medizin, Chirurgie) sowie der Kantonalen Psychiatrischen Klinik St Urban (Luzern, CH) (Psychiatrie)
• 1991 Elective period 'National Rheumatology Centre', Leeds, UK
• 1988-1994 Medical School, University of Magdeburg, (Graduation with 'Auszeichnung', Best Graduate Award)

MEMBERSHIPS:
• American College of Rheumatology
• German Society for Connective Tissue Research
• Global Arthritis Research Network
• EULAR Standing Committee on Investigative Rheumatology

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
• Mesenchymal activation during chronic inflammation in joints and bone
• Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in fibroblast adhesion, migration and tissue invasion during arthritis
• Mechanisms of chondrocyte differentiation and chrondrocyte-mediated matrix remodelling under physiological, inflammatory and degenerative conditions
• Mechanisms of Bone remodelling and bone healing under chronic inflammatory conditions