About us

Our main goals

The German Society for Matrix Biology provides a forum for scientist to promotes the understanding of the extracellular matrix. The main focus of the society is to:

Support Research

Support research using molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, immunology methods in order to analyse the function of the extracellular matrix

Expand Interaction

Facilitate the interaction between basic scientist and clinicians to analyse the relevance of the extracellular matrix for connective tissue diseases

Promote Clinical Research

Promote the clinical research by interdisciplinary collaborations and joint research programs

Conferences

Offer a forum for scientific discussions and education especially by organizing an annual meeting for the members of the society

Encourage Young Scientists

Encourage young scientists to participate actively in the society and support their academic career development

Scientific Exchange

Maintain an active scientific exchange and organize joint meetings with Matrix Biology Europe (MBE) [previuosly Federation of European Connective Tissue Societies (FECTS)], the International Society for Matrix Biology (ISMB) as well as national Matrix Biology Societies and other scientific organisations.

Download the statutes of the DGMB here.

Membership

An annual membership rate of 20€/40€/60€ (according to your professional degree) will give you the possibility to join the general assembly and get a reduced participation fee for the annual conference. Please feel welcome to become a member of the society right now and find out more about member benefits.

Our board of directors is comprised of genuinely gifted minds

Dr. Julia Etich

Chairwoman

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Cologne

Prof. Dr. Frank Zaucke

Vice Chairman

Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Research Unit for Osteoarthritis, Orthopedic University Hospital Friedrichsheim, Frankfurt/Main

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Sengle

Treasurer

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Center for Biochemistry, University Hospital Cologne

Prof. Dr. Martin Götte

Secretary

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Münster

Prof. Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland

Elected Committee

NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Reutlingen

Dr. Alexander Nyström

Elected Committee

Department of Dermatology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg

Dr. Julia Marzi

Early Career Researcher Representative

Department for Medical Technologies & Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen

You are interested in collaborating with us or you want more information about DGMB? So just talk to us!

Workgroups

University of Cologne

Mats Paulsson, Alvise Schiavinato, Raimund Wagener

Institute: Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty

Research: Study the structure and assembly of collagen VI to understand pathomechanisms of collagen VI-dependent musculoskeletal diseases

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Gerhard Sengle

Institute: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Faculty

Research: Congenital connective tissue disorders, fibrillinopathies

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Bent Brachvogel

Institute: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Faculty

Research: Understand how alterations in microRNAs, extracellular matrix proteins and mitochondria function affect cell-matrix interactions to destabilize organ development and function

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Anja Niehoff

Institute: Cologne Center for Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (CCMB)

Research: Improve the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, therapy, and regeneration of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system

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Manuel Koch

Institute: Institute for Oral and Musculoskeletal Biology

Research: Study the role of matrix molecules on the nervous system and the function of novel collagens

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Cornelia Mauch, Paola Zigrino

Institute: Department for Dermatology and Venerology

Research: Determine the relevance of matrix metalloproteases and ADAMs for skin homeostasis and skin diseases

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Thomas Krieg, Beate Eckes

Institute: Department for Dermatology and Venerology

Research: Understand mechanisms controlling activation of fibroblasts with a special focus on activation by fibroblast communication with the surrounding ECM

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Sabine Eming

Institute: Department for Dermatology and Venerology

Research: Understand how the skin senses tissue damage and how these events translate into a regenerative response or disease

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Ursula Hartmann

Institute: Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty

Research: Characterize the relevance of the EC domain family for interaction between cells and their environment

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Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main

Liliana Schaefer

Institute: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research: Soluble matrix components (= danger signals signifying tissue injury) as novel therapeutic targets in inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer

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Frank Zaucke

Institute: Department of Orthopaedics

Research: Determine molecular mechanisms of chondrodysplasia caused by defects in the extracellular matrix components

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University of Freiburg

Leena Bruckner-Tuderman

Institute: Department of Dermatology

Research: Discern the genetic and molecular basis of human skin diseases and the molecular mechanisms leading to clinical symptoms

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Alexander Nyström

Institute: Department of Dermatology and Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS)

Research: Basement membranes in health and disease, and new therapies for extracellular matrix diseases of the skin

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Raphael Reuten

Institute: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Research: Understand the impact of the extracellular MATRIx archiTECTURE (MATRITECTURE) on cancer cell behaviour

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University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf

Sandra Pohl

Institute: Department of Osteology and Biomechanics

Research: Understand the molecular mechanisms balancing skeletal matrix synthesis and degradation and to elucidate the pathophysiological basis of genetically inherited skeletal disorders in childhood

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Heidelberg University Hospital

Wiltrud Richter

Institute: Research Centre for Experimental Orthopaedics

Research: Development of innovative therapies for regeneration of damaged cartilage, intervertebral discs and bone

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DKFZ

Peter Angel

Institute: Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control

Research: Understand the molecular principles of signal transduction pathways elicited by extracellular signals to control essential genetic programs in cell physiology and pathology

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University of Lübeck

Jürgen Brinckmann

Institute: Institute of Virology and Cell Biology

Research: Understand molecular structure and function of extracellular matrix proteins in wound healing and fibrosis (i.e. collagen, collagen cross-links, elastin, elastin cross-links and fibrillins)

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Jürgen Rohwedel

Institute: Institute of Virology and Cell Biology

Research: Analyze mechanisms of cartilage differentiation and disease by in vitro differentiation of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells

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LMU München

Attila Aszódi

Institute: Laboratory for Experimental Surgery and Regenerative Medicine

Research: Apply an interdisciplinary strategy that combines mouse genetics, cell biology, imaging techniques and the application of indentation-type atomic force microscopy in order to link molecular mechanisms of ECM/cellular adaptation induced by external stimuli to biomechanical and biochemical functions of skeletal tissues

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Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry

Reinhard Fässler

Institute: Research Department Molecular Medicine

Research: Investigate adhesion signalling by combining mouse genetics, cell biology, in vitro and in vivo imaging, biochemistry, proteomics and surface chemistry/material science

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Helmholtz Zentrum München

Herbert Schiller

Institute: Institute of Lung Biology and Disease, ILBD

Research: Understand how cells are wired together into circuits and thereby influence each other in lung health and disease

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University of Münster

Lydia Sorokin

Institute: Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry

Research: Characterize the role of basement membranes on tissue development and homeostasis with a focus on blood vessels and leukocyte extravasation and secondary lymphoid organs

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Johannes Eble

Institute: Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry

Research: Analyze integrin-mediated interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix

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Kay Grobe

Institute: Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry

Research: Characterize the role of Heparan sulfate (HS) sugar chains in growth and differentiation, cell migration and axon guidance

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Rita Dreier

Institute: Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry

Research: Understand molecular control mechanisms of chondrocyte maturation during endochondral ossification (physiological condition) and degenerative joint diseases (pathological condition)

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Thomas Pap

Institute: Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine, IMM

Research: Define the role of mesenchymal cell activation and differentiation in physiology and pathology of joints, cartilageand bone

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Martin Götte

Institute: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Research: Analyse the molecular role of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans in the pathogenesis of malignant and inflammatory diseases

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Sara Wickström

Institute: Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Cell and Tissue Dynamics

Research: Uncover how single stem cell behaviors are coordinated at the population level, and how population-level dynamics are coupled to tissue architecture

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McGill University

Dieter Reinhardt

Institute: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry

Research: Cell-Matrix Dynamics and Pathology

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University of Regensburg

Susanne Grässel

Institute: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Research: Analyze the chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and study their potential usage for tissue-engineering and to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of cartilage and bone degradation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

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University of Tübingen

Katja Schenke-Layland

Institute: Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, NMI

Research: Define cellular and extracellular matrix components relevant for normal human development and leverage that knowledge to develop applications in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

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University of Ulm

Rolf Brenner

Institute: Division for Biochemistry of Joint and Connective Tissue Diseases

Research: Understand medical, biological and molecular relationships of musculoskeletal connective tissue

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Collaborative Research

Excellence cluster
Cells in Motion (CiM)
Prof. Dr. Lydia Sorokin
Münster
SFB850
Control of Cell Motility in Morphogenesis, Cancer Invasion and Metastasis
Prof. Dr. Christoph Peters
Freiburg
SFB1009
Breaking Barriers
Prof. Dr. Johannes Roth
Münster
SFB1160
Immune-mediated pathology as a consequence of impaired immune reactions (IMPATH)
Prof. Dr. Stephan Ehl
Freiburg
SFB1177
Molecular and Functional Characterization of Selective Autophagy
Prof. Dr. Ivan Dikic
Frankfurt
FOR2407
Exploring Articular Cartilage and Subchondral Bone Degeneration and Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (ExCarBon)
Prof. Dr. Susanne Grässel
Regensburg
FOR2722
Novel molecular determinants for musculoskeletal extracellular matrix homeostasis – a systemic approach
Prof. Dr. Bent Brachvogel
Cologne
SFB1039
Signalling by fatty acid derivatives and sphingolipids in health and disease
Prof. Dr. Josef Pfeilschifter
Frankfurt
Excellence cluster
Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI)
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dimmeler
Frankfurt
ERC Advanced Grant
Breaking into the brain-basement membranes and the perivascular niche
Prof. Dr. Lydia Sorokin
Münster
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Heparanase inhibition as a multifunctional targeting approach in cancer (HEPINIB)
Prof. Dr. Martin Götte
Münster

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