CMMC Researchers 2026-2028

Overview - Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators

Associated research groups will be added gradually.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Miguel A Alejandre Alcázar
Prof. Dr. Dr. Miguel A Alejandre Alcázar

Dept. of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 38

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Alessandro Annibaldi
Dr. Alessandro Annibaldi

CMMC | Lab. for Cell Death, Inflammation and Immunity - CMMC Research Building

CMMC - PI - JRG 12

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Philipp Antczak
Dr. Philipp Antczak

CMMC | Lab. for Computational Biology of Ageing - CMMC Research Building

CMMC - PI - CAP 20
CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 06

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Stephan Baldus
Prof. Dr. Stephan Baldus

Dept. III of Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 01
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Hyatt Balke-Want
Dr. Hyatt Balke-Want

Dept. I for Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - CAP 36

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Bodo Beck
PD Dr. Bodo Beck

Institute for Human Genetics

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 03

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Thomas Benzing
Prof. Dr. Thomas Benzing

Dept. II of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Chair
CMMC - PI - C 01 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Bent Brachvogel
Prof. Dr. Bent Brachvogel

Dept. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

CMMC - PI - C 03

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Sebastian Brähler
PD Dr. Sebastian Brähler

Dept. II of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - B 01

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Jens C Brüning
Prof. Dr. Jens C Brüning

Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 62
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Büttner
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Büttner

Institute for Pathology

CMMC - Co-PI - A 03
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Claus Cursiefen
Prof. Dr. Claus Cursiefen

Dept. of Ophthalmology | Translational Experimental Ophthalmology Cologne (TEO-C)

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 57
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Lena Ebert
Dr. Lena Ebert

Dept. II of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - C 11

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. Sabine Eming
Prof. Dr. Sabine Eming

Dept. of Dermatology and Venereology

CMMC - Vice Chair
CMMC - PI - C 05 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Heiko Endle
Dr. Heiko Endle

Institute of Anatomy II | Dept. of Molecular and Translational Neuroscience

CMMC - Co-PI - C 15

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Emma Fenech
Dr. Emma Fenech

Center for Biochemistry

CMMC - PI - CAP 37

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Matthias Fischer
Prof. Dr. Matthias Fischer

Dept. of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

CMMC - PI - A 01

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Christian Frezza
Prof. Dr. Christian Frezza

Institute for Metabolomics in Ageing | Institute for Genetics | CECAD

CMMC - PI - A 02

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Melanie Fritsch
Dr. Melanie Fritsch

Institute for Molecular Immunology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 51

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Malte C. Gather
Prof. Dr. Malte C. Gather

Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Group Leader

CMMC - PI - C 01 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Graziana Gatto
Prof. Dr. Graziana Gatto

Dept. for Neurology

Group Leader

CMMC - PI - C 06

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. Niels Gehring
Prof. Dr. Niels Gehring

Institute for Genetics, Department of Biology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 63

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Debora Grosskopf-Kroiher
Dr. Debora Grosskopf-Kroiher

CMMC

Managing Director | Scientific Coordinator
Head - Skin Cancer Prev. Project - PP 1
DIE SONNE UND WIR

Dr. Karina Hadrian
Dr. Karina Hadrian

Dept. of General Ophthalmology

Principal Investigator

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 59

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Robert Haensel-Hertsch
Dr. Robert Haensel-Hertsch

CMMC / Lab “Structure and stability of the (Epi)Genome”

CMMC - PI - JRG 10

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Michael Hallek
Prof. Dr. Michael Hallek

Dept. I of Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - B 05 (TP)
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Matthias Hammerschmidt
Prof. Dr. Matthias Hammerschmidt

Institute for Zoology | Biocenter Cologne

CMMC - PI - C 07
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Ruth Hanßen
Dr. Ruth Hanßen

Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 64

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Axel Hillmer
Prof. Dr. Axel Hillmer

Institute for General Pathology and Pathological Anatomy

CMMC - PI - A 03

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Friedrich Felix Hoyer
PD Dr. Friedrich Felix Hoyer

Dept. III of Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - CAP 22

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Shaista Ilyas
Dr. Shaista Ilyas

Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Postdoctoral Researcher

CMMC - Co-PI - B 05 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. Dirk Isbrandt
Prof. Dr. Dirk Isbrandt

Institute for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience

CMMC - PI - C 08

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Jantsch
Prof. Dr. Jonathan Jantsch

Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 60

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Silvia von Karstedt
Prof. Dr. Silvia von Karstedt

Dept. of Translational Genomics | CECAD

CMMC - PI - A 05

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Hamid Kashkar
Prof. Dr. Hamid Kashkar

Institute for Molecular Immunology | CECAD Research Center

CMMC - PI - B 02
Head - Flow Cytometry Core Unit

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Lara-Jane Kepser
Dr. Lara-Jane Kepser

Institute of Anatomy II | Dept. of Molecular and Translational Neurosciences

CMMC - Co-PI - C 15

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Florian Klein
Prof. Dr. Florian Klein

Institute for Virology

CMMC - PI - B 03
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Jens P Klußmann
Prof. Dr. Jens P Klußmann

Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Felix Köhler
Dr. Felix Köhler

Dept. II of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - C 12

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Tatiana Korotkova
Prof. Dr. Tatiana Korotkova

Institute for Vegetative Physiology

CMMC - PI - C 09
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Peter Kreuzaler
Dr. Peter Kreuzaler

Institute for Metabolomics in Ageing

CMMC - PI - A 06 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Krieg
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Krieg

Translational Matrix Biology

CMMC - PI - SRG 02

Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Martin Krönke
Prof. Dr. Martin Krönke

Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Julia Lang-Meli
Dr. Julia Lang-Meli

Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

CMMC - Co-PI - B 06

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Orsolya Leidecker
Dr. Orsolya Leidecker

Institute for Genetics | CECAD Research Center

CMMC - PI - CAP 30

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Tristan Lerbs
Dr. Tristan Lerbs

Institute for Pathology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 69

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. Esther Mahabir-Brenner
Prof. Dr. Esther Mahabir-Brenner

CMMC

Head - RG Comparative Medicine
CMMC - PI - Lab. of Comparative Medicine 

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Berenike Maier
Prof. Dr. Berenike Maier

Institute for Biological Physics | Center for Molecular Biosciences

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 61

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Hajar Maleki
PD Dr. Hajar Maleki

Institute for Inorganic Chemistry

CMMC - PI - CAP 35
CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 08

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Dr. (h.c.) Sanjay Mathur
Prof. Dr. Dr. (h.c.) Sanjay Mathur

Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chair of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry

CMMC - PI - B 05 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Elisa Motori
Dr. Elisa Motori

Institute for Biochemistry

CMMC - PI - A 06 (TP)
CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 10

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Stefan Müller
Dr. Stefan Müller

CMMC | CECAD Research Building

Head - CECAD/CMMC Proteomics Facility

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Christoph Neumann-Haefelin
Prof. Dr. Christoph Neumann-Haefelin

Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

CMMC - PI - B 06

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Phuong-Hien Nguyen
Dr. Phuong-Hien Nguyen

Department I of Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 52

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Catherin Niemann
PD Dr. Catherin Niemann

Institute for Biochemistry | CMMC

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 14
IPMM Program - Scientific Coordinator I CMMC Tissue Embedding and Histology & Microscopy - Head

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Carien M Niessen
Prof. Dr. Carien M Niessen

Dept. of Cell Biology of the Skin | CECAD

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 65
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Maria Notara
Dr. Maria Notara

Dept. of General Ophthalmology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 47

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Valentina Piano
Dr. Valentina Piano

Institute for Human Genetics | CMMC Research Building

CMMC - PI - CAP 32

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Simon Pöpsel
Dr. Simon Pöpsel

CMMC | Lab. for Chromatin Biochemistry

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 53

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Jan Riemer
Prof. Dr. Jan Riemer

Institute of Biochemstry

Group Leader

CMMC - PI - C 13 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Thomas Riffelmacher
Prof. Dr. Thomas Riffelmacher

Dept. III for Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 66

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Stephan Rosenkranz
Prof. Dr. Stephan Rosenkranz

Dept. III of Internal Medicine | Cologne Cardiovascular Research Center (CCRC)

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 67

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Elena I Rugarli
Prof. Dr. Elena I Rugarli

Institute for Genetics | CECAD Research Center

CMMC - PI - C 10

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Rybniker
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Rybniker

Dept. I of Internal Medicine | Translational Research Unit | Infectious Diseases (TRU-ID)

CMMC - PI - B 08
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Désirée Schatton
Dr. Désirée Schatton

Institute of Metabolomics and Ageing | CECAD

CMMC - Co-PI - A 02

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schermer
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schermer

Dept. II of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - C 11

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

PD Dr. Simona Schlereth
PD Dr. Simona Schlereth

Dept. of Ophthalmology I FEBO

Senior Physician

CMMC - PI - CAP 40

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Hans A Schlößer
Prof. Dr. Hans A Schlößer

Dept. of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery

CMMC - PI - B 09

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Günter Schwarz
Prof. Dr. Günter Schwarz

Institute for Biochemistry

CMMC - Vice Chair
CMMC - PI - C 12

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Dr. Michal-Ruth Schweiger
Prof. Dr. Dr. Michal-Ruth Schweiger

Institute for Translational Epigenetics

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 35
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Alexander Simonis
Dr. Alexander Simonis

Dept. I of Internal Medicine

CMMC - PI - CAP 27
CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 09 

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Alessandra Stangherlin
Dr. Alessandra Stangherlin

Institute for Mitochondrial Diseases and Ageing | CECAD

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 54

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Alexander vom Stein
Dr. Alexander vom Stein

Dept. I of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - B 05 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. Renata Stripecke
Prof. Dr. Renata Stripecke

Department I of Internal Medicine | Institute of Translational Immune-Oncology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 55

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Sebastian Strubl
Dr. Sebastian Strubl

Institute for Genetics

CMMC - Co-PI - C 04

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Dr. Sebastian J Theobald
Dr. Sebastian J Theobald

Dept. I of Internal Medicine

CMMC - Co-PI - B 08

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Débora B Trentini Schmidt
Dr. Débora B Trentini Schmidt

CMMC | Lab. for Protein Quality Control and Stress Response

CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 05
CMMC - PI - CAP 33

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Trifunovic
Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Trifunovic

Institute for Mitochondrial Diseases and Ageing | CECAD

CMMC - PI - C 13 (TP)

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Despina Tsortouktzidis
Dr. Despina Tsortouktzidis

Institute for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience

CMMC - Co-PI - C 08

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Olaf Utermöhlen
Prof. Dr. Olaf Utermöhlen

Institute for Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Prof. Dr. David Vilchez
Prof. Dr. David Vilchez

Institute for Integrated stress Response Signaling

CMMC - PI - C 14

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Johannes Vogt
Prof. Dr. Johannes Vogt

Institute of Anatomy II | Dept. of Molecular and Translational Neurosciences

CMMC - PI - C 15

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Holger Winkels
Prof. Dr. Holger Winkels

Dept. III of Internal Medicine | Experimental Cardiology

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 56

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirth
Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirth

Institute for Human Genetics | CMMC Research Building

CMMC - PI - assoc. RG 68
Executive Board Member

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Anne Wolf
Dr. Anne Wolf

Dept. of Ophthalmology

CMMC - PI - CAP 34

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Matthias Zehner
Dr. Matthias Zehner

Institute for Virology

CMMC - PI - CAP 41
CMMC - PI - B 11

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Dr. Dr. Hans Zempel
Dr. Dr. Hans Zempel

Institute for Human Genetics

CMMC - PI - CAP 28

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed