Prof. Dr. Friedrich Paulsen
Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy

Prof. Dr. Friedrich Paulsen

Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy

The institute’s research focuses on questions concerning the eye, in particular the anatomy, immunology and pathophysiology of the ocular surface, the tear film and tear drainage mechanisms. Furthermore, the pathomechanisms that lead to dry eye disease such as lacrimal gland insufficiency and meibomian gland dysfunction are investigated. This involves, among other things, lacrimal gland and meibomian gland replacement by means of stem cell therapy. Other research topics include surface-active proteins, in particular surfactant proteins, osteoarthritis, brain mechanics, SARS-CoV-2, microplastics in the human body, various anatomical questions and questions on the health of medical students..

Research projects

Antimicrobial peptides at the ocular surface
Insights into Meibomian Gland (dys)function
Lacrimal gland stem cells
Tear drainage mechanisms
Mechanisms of corneal regeneration
Function of newly described surfactant proteins
Microplastic in the body
Engineering brain mechanics
Drug depots for the eye
Health of medical students
Corneal wound healing
TFF peptides and other peptides in osteoarthritis
Analysis of mucus on the ocular surface and in the larynx

Gewebe-Regenerator: Adaptive und automatisierte Geweberegeneration am Skelettmuskel mit dem Tissue Regenerator (Gewebe-Regenerator)

(Third Party Funds Single)

Project leader: Oliver Friedrich, Friedrich Paulsen, Philipp Beckerle, Michael Haug
Term: 1. April 2025 - 31. March 2028
Acronym: Gewebe-Regenerator
Funding source: Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR)
URL: https://www.mbt.tf.fau.de/research/research-groups/bioreactors-in-tissue-engineering/the-myoreactor-prototype/

Abstract

Auf 1 Mio. in Deutschland lebende Menschen kommen gerade einmal 11 Organspender und Organspenderinnen. Dies waren die ernüchternden Ergebnisse einer 2020 durchgeführten Studie der BzgA. Besonders bei traumatischen Verletzungen der Skelettmuskulatur durch, z.B. einen Autounfall, Beißattacken, Schuss-, oder Explosionsverletzungen, besteht bislang keine Perspektive für eine vollständige Wiederherstellung der ursprünglichen Funktion. Grund hierfür ist, dass eine Fremdtransplantation beim Empfänger mit einem starken Volumen- und damit Kraftverlust verbunden ist. Eigentransplantationen schädigen wiederum die Stelle der Entnahme nachhaltig. In vitro hergestellte Organe sind von diesen Einschränkungen entkoppelt und öffnen ganz neue Behandlungsmöglichkeiten. Leider schwanken derart hergestellte Organe aufgrund der begrenzten Technologien im Bereich des Tissue Engineering und vielen manuellen Arbeitsschritten noch sehr stark in ihrer finalen Qualität und Funktionalität. Besonders bisherige invasive Qualitätsanalysen (z.B. Dünnschnitte) verhindern die weitere Verwertung des Präparats. Dies geschieht meist schon während der Herstellung der zellfreien Kollagenmatrizen - dem Ausgangspunkt für eine Wiederbesiedlung mit Spenderzellen (in der Abbildung links im Bioreaktor dargestellt). Mit dem Validierungsprojekt zielen wir darauf ab, den Prozess von der Herstellung zellfreier Kollagenmatrizen bis hin zum regenerierten Skelettmuskel zu automatisieren und neue nicht-invasive Parameter als Qualitätsstandard zu etablieren. Danach planen wir sowohl die Vermarktung der Plattform als auch die Dienstleistung der Regeneration in einer Ausgründung zu integrieren.

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SFB 1540 - EBM: Exploring Brain Mechanics (EBM): Understanding, engineering and exploiting mechanical properties and signals in central nervous system development, physiology and pathology

(Third Party Funds Group – Overall project)

Project leader: Paul Steinmann
Term: 1. January 2023 - 31. December 2026
Acronym: SFB 1540 - EBM
Funding source: DFG / Sonderforschungsbereich / Transregio (SFB / TRR)
URL: https://www.crc1540-ebm.research.fau.eu/

Abstract

Thecentral nervous system (CNS) is our most complex organ system. Despite tremendousprogress in our understanding of the biochemical, electrical, and geneticregulation of CNS functioning and malfunctioning, many fundamental processesand diseases are still not fully understood. For example, axon growth patterns inthe developing brain can currently not be well-predicted based solely on thechemical landscape that neurons encounter, several CNS-related diseases cannotbe precisely diagnosed in living patients, and neuronal regeneration can stillnot be promoted after spinal cord injuries.

Duringmany developmental and pathological processes, neurons and glial cells aremotile. Fundamentally, motion is drivenby forces. Hence, CNS cells mechanicallyinteract with their surrounding tissue. They adhere to neighbouring cells and extracellular matrix using celladhesion molecules, which provide friction, and generate forces usingcytoskeletal proteins. These forces aretransmitted to the outside world not only to locomote but also to probe themechanical properties of the environment, which has a long overseen huge impacton cell function.

Onlyrecently, groups of several project leaders in this consortium, and a few other groupsworldwide, have discovered an important contribution of mechanical signalsto regulating CNS cell function. For example, they showed that brain tissuemechanics instructs axon growth and pathfinding in vivo, that mechanicalforces play an important role for cortical folding in the developing humanbrain, that the lack of remyelination in the aged brain is due to an increasein brain stiffness in vivo, and that many neurodegenerative diseases areaccompanied by changes in brain and spinal cord mechanics. These first insights strongly suggest thatmechanics contributes to many other aspects of CNS functioning, and it islikely that chemical and mechanical signals intensely interact at the cellularand tissue levels to regulate many diverse cellular processes.

The CRC 1540 EBM synergises the expertise of engineers, physicists,biologists, medical researchers, and clinicians in Erlangen to explore mechanicsas an important yet missing puzzle stone in our understanding of CNSdevelopment, homeostasis, and pathology. Our strongly multidisciplinary teamwith unique expertise in CNS mechanics integrates advanced invivo, in vitro, and in silico techniques across time(development, ageing, injury/disease) and length (cell, tissue, organ) scalesto uncover how mechanical forces and mechanical cell and tissue properties,such as stiffness and viscosity, affect CNS function. We especially focus on(A) cerebral, (B) spinal, and (C) cellular mechanics. Invivo and in vitro studies provide a basic understanding ofmechanics-regulated biological and biomedical processes in different regions ofthe CNS. In addition, they help identify key mechano-chemical factors forinclusion in in silico models and provide data for model calibration andvalidation. In silico models, in turn, allow us to test hypotheses without the need of excessive or even inaccessibleexperiments. In addition, they enable the transfer and comparison of mechanics data and findingsacross species and scales. They also empower us to optimise processparameters for the development of in vitro brain tissue-like matricesand in vivo manipulation of mechanical signals, and, eventually, pavethe way for personalised clinical predictions.

Insummary, we exploit mechanics-based approaches to advance ourunderstanding of CNS function and to provide the foundation for futureimprovement of diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

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SFB 1540 IRTG: Integriertes Graduiertenkolleg zu EBM (IRTG)

(Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

Overall project: SFB 1540: Erforschung der Mechanik des Gehirns (EBM): Verständnis, Engineering und Nutzung mechanischer Eigenschaften und Signale in der Entwicklung, Physiologie und Pathologie des zentralen Nervensystems
Project leader: Friedrich Paulsen
Term: 1. January 2023 - 31. December 2026
Acronym: SFB 1540 IRTG
Funding source: DFG / Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB)

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SFB 1540 A02: Quantitative Charakterisierung von Fehlbildungen des Gehirns (A02)

(Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

Overall project: SFB 1540 - EBM: Erforschung der Mechanik des Gehirns (EBM): Verständnis, Engineering und Nutzung mechanischer Eigenschaften und Signale in der Entwicklung, Physiologie und Pathologie des zentralen Nervensystems
Project leader: Ingmar Blümcke, Arnd Dörfler, Friedrich Paulsen
Term: 1. January 2023 - 31. December 2026
Acronym: SFB 1540 A02
Funding source: DFG / Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB)

Abstract

A02 stellt die zelluläre und extrazelluläre Zusammensetzung der menschlichen Hirnrinde unter physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Bedingungen quantitativ dar, z.B. genetisch definierte Fokale Kortikale Dysplasien und Polymikrogyrien. Darüber hinaus sollen mittels hochauflösenden und funktionellen MRT-Verfahren „Biomarker“ für unsere anatomisch-pathologischen und molekularen Befunde sowie visko-elastischen Messungen im Gehirngewebe (zusammen mit A01) ermittelt werden. Der Zugang zu menschlichem Hirngewebe ist ein herausragendes Merkmal von A02 und ergänzt die in EBM verfügbaren Tier- und Zellkulturmodelle.

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2026

Arviza-Lorenzo, P., Aragonés, P., Valderrama-Canales, F.J., Schicht, M., Paulsen, F., Tschernig, T.,... Vázquez Osorio, M.T. (2026). Innervation pattern of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee: Indication of an active role in proprioception and autonomic modulation. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2025.152732
Auer, S., Hoffmann, L., Schicht, M., Blümcke, I., & Paulsen, F. (2026). Temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with neuroinflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and synaptic protein alterations. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2026.1728666
Hinrichsen, J., Reiter, N., Hoffmann, L., Vorndran, J., Rampp, S., Delev, D.,... Budday, S. (2026). The Mechanical Fingerprint of Hippocampal Sclerosis Linking Neuronal Cell Loss and Gliosis to Tissue Stiffness. (Unpublished, Submitted).
Liang, Z., Aslam, M., Haq, W.U., Wiesler, M., Mutlu, S.N., Stahlhut, P.,... Haider, M.S. (2026). A high-throughput 3D conjunctival spheroid model for standardized in vitro testing. Scientific Reports, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63887-0
Neumann, O., Gopalan Ramachandran, R., Surana, H.V., Paulsen, F., Scholz, M., Gaffling, S.,... Budday, S. (2026). Multimodal mechanical characterization pipeline for spinal cord tissue. Acta Biomaterialia, 216, 48-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2026.04.036
Rampp, S., Budday, S., Reiter, N., Tueni, N., Hinrichsen, J., Paulsen, F.,... Dörfler, A. (2026). Fractional Anisotropy as a Surrogate Marker of Brain Mechanics. (Unpublished, In review).
Reinosa, J.J., Guzmán, J.C., Fernández-Álvarez, M., Katsumiti, A., Roldan, M., Hierhammer, M.-Y.,... Fernández, J.F. (2026). Facile preparation of environmentally relevant nano- and microplastics for hazard assessment and ecotoxicological testing evaluation. NanoImpact, 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2026.100622
Reiter, N., Nistler, S., Hoffmann, L., Bräuer, L., Paulsen, F., & Budday, S. (2026). Mechanical characterization of human versus porcine brain tissue under large strains. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-025-02040-8
Zahn, I., Franke, H., Gleixner, S., Blavet, N., Dietrich, J., Arnold, P., & Paulsen, F. (2026). Intrinsic regeneration mechanisms of murine lacrimal gland epithelial cells for therapeutic applications in aqueous-deficient dry eye disease. Ocular Surface, 41, 233-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2026.06.007

2020

Ali, M.J., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Human Lacrimal Drainage System Reconstruction, Recanalization, and Regeneration. Current Eye Research, 45(3), 241-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/02713683.2019.1580376
Ali, M.J., Zetzsche, M., Scholz, M., Hahn, D., Gaffling, S., Heichel, J.,... Paulsen, F. (2020). New insights into the lacrimal pump. Ocular Surface, 18(4), 689-698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2020.07.013
Aydin, M., Naumova, E.A., Paulsen, F., Zhang, W., Gopon, F., Theis, C.,... Ehrhardt, A. (2020). House dust mite exposure causes increased susceptibility of nasal epithelial cells to adenovirus infection. Viruses, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/v12101151
Bründl, M., Garreis, F., Schicht, M., Dietrich, J., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Characterization of the innervation of the meibomian glands in humans, rats and mice. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151609
Budday, S., Sarem, M., Starck, L., Sommer, G., Pfefferle, J., Phunchago, N.,... Holzapfel, G.A. (2020). Towards microstructure-informed material models for human brain tissue. Acta Biomaterialia, 104, 53-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2019.12.030
Feldt, J., Welss, J., Schropp, V., Gelse, K., Tsokos, M., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Recombinant human gelsolin promotes the migration of human articular cartilage chondrocytes by regulating gene expression in vitro. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2020.100124
Guntinas-Lichius, O., Ihrler, S., Freesmeyer, M., Guehne, F., Kluge, R., Bräuer, L.,... Bechmann, I. (2020). Gibt es eine neue Kopfspeicheldrüse? – Eher nicht! Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1307-3872
Hammer, C., Scholz, M., Bischofsberger, L., Paulsen, F., & Burger, P.H.M. (2020). Feasibility of Clinical Hypnosis for Test Anxiety in First-Year Medical Students. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2020.1799379
Hampel, U., Chinnery, H.R., Garreis, F., Paulsen, F., de Iongh, R., Bui, B.V.,... Chen, H.L. (2020). Ocular Phenotype of Relaxin Gene Knockout (Rln-/-) Mice. Current Eye Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/02713683.2020.1737714
Iwanaga, J., Singh, V., Ohtsuka, A., Hwang, Y., Kim, H.J., Moryś, J.,... Tubbs, R.S. (2020). Acknowledging the use of human cadaveric tissues in research papers: Recommendations from anatomical journal editors. Clinical Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23671
Kanewska, A., Ito, M., Karasawa, Y., Inada, M., Garreis, F., Paulsen, F., & Takeuchi, M. (2020). Developmental change in the gene expression of transient receptor potential melastatin channel 3 (TRPM3) in murine lacrimal gland. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151551
Karauda, P., Podgórski, M., Paulsen, F., Polguj, M., & Olewnik, Ł. (2020). Anatomical variations of the tibialis anterior tendon. Clinical Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23663
Mohammad, J.A., Heichel, J., Singh, S., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Electron Microscopic Features of Canalicular Concretions. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 36(5), 485-489. https://doi.org/10.1097/IOP.0000000000001618
Mohammad, J.A., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Horner's Muscle or Horner-Duverney's Muscle. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 36(2), 208-. https://doi.org/10.1097/IOP.0000000000001574
Mohammad, J.A., Scholz, M., Singh, S., Heichel, J., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Etiopathogenesis of lacrimal sac mucopeptide concretions: insights from cinematic rendering techniques. Graefes Archive For Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-020-04793-7
Musayeva, A., Gericke, A., Jäger, F., Paulsen, F., Braun, M., Fabry, B.,... Zierhut, M. (2020). Ergebnisse der Sicca-Forschungsförderung 2016. Ophthalmologe. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00347-020-01163-w
Olewnik, Ł., Karauda, P., Gonera, B., Kurtys, K., Haładaj, R., Tubbs, R.S.,... Polguj, M. (2020). Intramuscular innervation of plantaris muscle evaluated using a modified Sihler's staining protocol — Proposal for a new classification. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151504
Olewnik, Ł., Zielinska, N., Paulsen, F., Podgórski, M., Haładaj, R., Karauda, P., & Polguj, M. (2020). A proposal for a new classification of soleus muscle morphology. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151584
Paulsen, F., & Tillmann, B. (2020). Structure, Function and Insertion of the Human Vocal Folds. Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 85, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1159/000456678
Schneider, E., Paulsen, F., & Jacobi, C. (2020). Messung der Dichte der Langerhans-Zellen als Verlaufsparameter bei Patienten mit Keratoconjunctivitis sicca unter topischer antiinflammatorischer Therapie mit Ciclosporin A 0,05% Augentropfen. Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde, 237(5), 669-674. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1155-6519
Singh, S., Mohammad, J.A., Mittal, V., Brabletz, S., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Immunohistological Study of Palpebral Lobe of the Lacrimal Gland in Severe Dry Eyes Secondary to Stevens–Johnson Syndrome. Current Eye Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/02713683.2020.1836227
Steffen, U., Koeleman, C.A., Sokolova, M.V., Bang, H., Kleyer, A., Rech, J.,... Hartmann, F. (2020). IgA subclasses have different effector functions associated with distinct glycosylation profiles. Nature Communications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13992-8
Vasil'ev, Y., Paulsen, F., & Dydykin, S. (2020). Anatomical and radiological features of the bone organization of the anterior part of the mandible. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151512
Vasil'ev, Y., Paulsen, F., Dydykin, S., Bogoyavlenskaya, T., & Kashtanov, A. (2020). Structural features of the anterior region of the mandible. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151589
Weizel, A., Distler, T., Schneidereit, D., Friedrich, O., Bräuer, L., Paulsen, F.,... Seitz, H. (2020). Complex mechanical behavior of human articular cartilage and hydrogels for cartilage repair. Acta Biomaterialia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.10.025
Wozniak, S., Kempinski, R., Grzelak, J., Domagala, Z., & Paulsen, F. (2020). Anatomy-related ratios predict colonoscopy incompleteness in similar examination conditions. Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 29(5), 573-580. https://doi.org/10.17219/acem/118847

Prof. Dr. Friedrich PaulsenInstitute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy

Prof. Dr. Friedrich PaulsenInstitute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy

Research projects

Current projects

Gewebe-Regenerator: Adaptive und automatisierte Geweberegeneration am Skelettmuskel mit dem Tissue Regenerator (Gewebe-Regenerator)

SFB 1540 - EBM: Exploring Brain Mechanics (EBM): Understanding, engineering and exploiting mechanical properties and signals in central nervous system development, physiology and pathology

SFB 1540 IRTG: Integriertes Graduiertenkolleg zu EBM (IRTG)

SFB 1540 A02: Quantitative Charakterisierung von Fehlbildungen des Gehirns (A02)

Recent publications

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Related Research Fields

Prof. Dr. Friedrich Paulsen
Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy

Prof. Dr. Friedrich Paulsen
Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy