Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology
Our laboratory focuses on the development of novel approaches for reconstruction and regeneration of the ocular surface and adnexa.
A particular area of research focus is the development of tissue-engineered constructs for reconstruction of the conjunctiva and the cornea, as well as more complex approaches for reconstruction of three-dimensional tissues such as the lacrimal gland.
Other research projects aim to evaluate the regenerative potential of lacrimal gland mesenchymal stem cells and limbal stem cells with a view towards clinical application.
Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology welcomes new faculty
Dr. Florian Kai Groeber-Becker (DSc) studied Biology at the University of Würzburg, receiving his diploma in 2008. He then worked at the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) on cryopreservation protocols for human embryonic stem cells. In 2009, he began his DSc research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), developing a vascularized skin model. He earned his DSc in Biology from the University of Würzburg in 2013.
As head of the Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC), he is renowned for his expertise in in vitro models, ophthalmology, and dermatology. He coordinates projects at the intersection of medical professionals, biologists, and engineers, and has authored or co-authored 45 peer-reviewed publications on tissue engineering and analytical tool development. He also focuses on creating bio-sensors and novel test methods for various scientific questions.
Dr. Groeber-Becker joins Heinrich Heine University as a Professor for Experimental Ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology. There, he will work on generating novel in vitro models for ophthalmological diseases, such as ocular pemphigus.
Team
