Prof. Dr. med. Kürten
- Executive Director
- Institute Director Neuroanatomy
- Professor of Anatomy
- Medical specialist for anatomy
About her
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Kürten's research focus is multiple sclerosis. This autoimmune disease is the most common neurological disorder that leads to permanent disability. It is incurable, but its course can vary greatly. This is precisely why the findings from her research projects are of the utmost importance.
In addition to research, teaching is equally close to Prof. Kürten's heart. »The goal must be to bring students into the clinic very well trained.« It is not without reason that anatomy has a long history in human medicine. It is essential for the clinic and the training of future physicians. It is important to Prof. Kürten that her students enjoy anatomy.
When not researching or teaching at the institute, Prof. Kürten can be found in nature – on long walks with her dog Buddy, who is an energetic support for the research team. She can also be found many a time in the club, fervently DJ-ing for her students.
Prof. Dr. med. Stefanie Kürten
Nussallee 10
53115 Bonn
Interview
»Students should have fun with anatomy!« A conversation with Prof. Stefanie Kürten, MD, Chair of Anatomy and Cell Biology.
General Anzeiger
Stefanie Kürten is the new expert in neuroanatomy at Bonn University Hospital. Professor with DJane license.
nordbayern
Stefanie Kürten (35) holds the Chair of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Friedrich Alexander University. She is very popular with the students. That's also because she does some things her own way.
Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation
The hope of one day understanding multiple sclerosis and being able to significantly improve therapy, especially of the progressive phase, motivates the scientist in her projects.
Curriculum vitae
since 2020
Chair and Institute Director of Neuroanatomy at Bonn University Hospital
2017 - 2020
Chair and Institute Director at the Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg
2013 - 2017
W2-Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Chair I, Group Leader of the AG Neuroimmunology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Würzburg
2008 - 2013
Research assistant to Prof. K. Addicks, Institute I for Anatomy, University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
2002 - 2008
Human medicine studies at the University of Cologne and at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA; internship at the University Hospital Cologne (elective neurology) and at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
(Doctoral thesis with P. V. Lehmann, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, USA)
- American Association of Immunologists
- Anatomical Society
- BMC Neurology, Editorial Board
- German Society of Immunology
- Cluster of Excellence Bonn ImmunoSensation2
- Frontiers in Neurology, Review Editor
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Editorial Board
- Trustees Oppenheim Award for Multiple Sclerosis (Novartis)
- Transdisciplinary Research Area Life and Health, University of Bonn
Projects and third-party funds
The role of casein-expressing muscularis macrophages in mediating local immune responses in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
DFG Research Training Group: Myeloid antigen-presenting cells and induction of adaptive immunity (GRK 2168)
Duration:
2021 - 2023
Funders:
DFG Research Training Group
Measurements of COVID-19 virological specificity in the breathing air of octoviral-ingesting patients
Duration:
2022 - 2023
Funders:
Octopoda GmbH
ML43071 OcreScreen: Measurements of CNS-reactive B cells and their specificity in the blood of ocrelizumab-treated patients
Duration:
2021 - 2027
Funders:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
CNS-reactive B cells in the blood are biomarkers for therapeutic responsiveness and disease activity in Lemtrada-treated MS patients
Duration:
2018 - 2022
Funders:
Sanofi Genyzme
Further projects and third-party funds
- DFG Research Training Group: Neurodevelopment and vulnerability of the central nervous system (GRK 2162) (2018–2021)
Project: Effects of the L-type calcium channel antagonist nimodipine on axonal growth, oligodendrocytes and remyelination
- DFG Material grant, individual application (2016–2018)
Project KU2760/4-1: Identification of key mechanisms and molecules in tertiary lymphoid organ formation in the central nervous system in MP4-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- DFG Material grant, individual application (2011–2015)
Project KU2760/2-1: B-cells and autoantibodies as mediators of immunopathology in autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- ELAN-Fond (Start-up financing at IZKF Erlangen) (2018/2019)
Project: The involvement of the enteric nervous system in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis
- Bavarian-California Higher Education Center (BaCaTeC) (2018/2019)
Project: In search of antibody specificity in multiple sclerosis
- Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation (2014–2017)
Project 2013_A244: Mechanisms of neuroprotection by the calcium antagonist nimodipine in an animal model of multiple sclerosis
- DMSG (German Multiple Sclerosis Society) (2014/2015)
Project: Functional characterization of tertiary lymphoid organs in the central nervous system in MP4-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- Cologne Fortune Program (2013/2014)
Project 294/2013: Biomechanics of the healthy and multiple sclerosis mouse spinal cord
- Cologne Fortune Program (2012/2013)
Project 209/2012: Correlation between CNS elasticity and histopathology during the course of a relapsing-remitting animal model of multiple sclerosis
- Cologne Fortune Program (2010/2011)
Project 62/2009: B-cells and autoantibodies as mediators of immunopathology in autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- Cologne Fortune Program (2006/2007)
Project: Morphological aspects of MP4-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice
- Multiple Sclerosis International Foundation Du Pré Grant (2011)
Project: The role of tertiary lymphoid tissue development in MP4-induced EAE
- Hochhaus Foundation and Imhoff Foundation (2011/2012)
Project: The B-cell and antibody-mediated immunopathology of MP4-induced EAE
- Maria Pesch Foundation and Imhoff Foundation (2010/2011)
Project: Is the peripheral and central TH1/TH17 reactivity to neuroantigen reflective of the clinical course and CNS histopathology of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis?
- Imhoff Foundation (2009)
Project: The protective versus pathogenic role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF in autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- Imhoff Foundation (2009)
Project: Improving our still imperfect understanding of MS pathogenesis by studying the role of B cell-mediated autoimmunity in MP4-induced EAE of C57BL/6 mice
- Maria Pesch Foundation (2007)
Project: The immunobiology and histopathology of MP4-induced EAE as a novel model for multiple sclerosis in C57BL/6 mice
- Novartis (2018–2020)
Project: The impact of siponimod on B cell-mediated neurodegeneration in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
- Sanofi Genzyme (2015–2019)
Project: Impact of CD52 blockade on the autoreactive B cell response and the formation of tertiary lymphoid organs in a murine model of multiple sclerosis
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (2017–2019)
Project: BS-CD20 mediated brain B cell depletion in a MS animal model
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (2016–2019) (together with the NeuroTransData GmbH)
Project: COPSELECT: Predicting and monitoring treatment responsiveness to Copaxone via measurements of the brain-reactive B cell response in the blood
- Novartis (2015/2016) (together with Prof. Christoph Kleinschnitz, Uniklinik Essen)
Project: the effect of fingolimod on tertiary lymphoid organ formation in the CNS in an animal model of multiple sclerosis
- Novartis (2012–2015) (gemeinsam mit Dr. Claudia C. Kaiser, Uniklinik Köln)
Project: Myelin-specific cytokine and antibody activity in the blood as biomarker for MS
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (2012–2014)
Project: Are measurements of myelin-specific TH1/TH2/TH17 cytokine signatures and antibodies by ELISPOT in the peripheral blood of patients with MS treated with Copaxone reflective of the long-term treatment response to the disease modifying therapy?
- Bayer HealthCare (2011–2013)
Project: Measurements of antigen-specific cytokine signatures in the blood of MS patients
Awards and Prizes
Prize for Good Teaching in Molecular Medicine, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg
Year:
2020
Award for good teaching in human medicine (preclinical), FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg
Year:
2017, 2018 (2x), 2019, 2020
Prize of teaching or best lecturer for preclinical, University Hospital Cologne, 2009-2013
Year:
2009–2013
Award for good teaching in human medicine (preclinical), FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg
Year:
2017, 2018 (2x), 2019, 2020
Poster Award,
101st Annual Meeting of the Anatomical Society
Year:
2014
Poster Award,
4th Multiple Sclerosis Research Workshop,
Bayer HealthCare
Year:
2014
Travel Award,
ECTRIMS (28th congress of the European committee for treatment and research in multiple sclerosis)
Year:
2012
Poster Award,
Annual Award of the DGKN
Year:
2012
Poster Award,
3rd Multiple Sclerosis Research Workshop,
Bayer HealthCare
Year:
2011
University Award of the University of Cologne,
Category Young Scientists
Year:
2011
Du Pré Grant,
Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
Year:
2011
Poster Award,
Human autoimmune diseases: learning from models,
Euroscicon meeting
Year:
2010
Faculty teaching award for preclinical,
University Hospital Cologne
Year:
2008, 2010 und 2012
ISNR Student Travel Award,
12th International Symposium on Neural Regeneration
Year:
2007
Top-Publications
Antibody cross-reactivity between bovine casein and myelin results in central nervous system demyelination
Chunder R, Weier A, Mäurer H, Luber N, Enders M, Luber G, Heider T, Spitzer A, Tacke S, Becker-Gotot J, Kurts C, Iyer R, Ho PP, Robinson WH, Lanz TV, Kuerten S
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 119(10):e2117034119 (2022)
B-cell activity predicts response to glatiramer acetate and interferon in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Tacke S, Braune S, Rovituso DM, Ziemssen T, Lehmann PV, Dikow H, Bergmann A, Kuerten S
Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm, 8(3):e980 (2021)
Autoantibodies against central nervous system antigens in a subset of B cell-dominant multiple sclerosis patients
Kuerten S, Lanz TV, Lingampalli N, Lahey LJ, Kleinschnitz C, Mäurer M, Schroeter M, Braune S, Ziemssen T, Ho PP, Robinson WH, Steinman L
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 117(35):21512-2151840 (2020)
The enteric nervous system is a potential autoimmune autoimmune target in multiple sclerosis
Wunsch M, Jabari S, Voussen B, Enders M, Srinivasan S, Cossais F, Wedel T, Boettner M, Schwarz A, Weyer L, Göcer O, Schroeter M, Maeurer M, Woenckhaus M, Pollok K, Radbruch H, Klotz L, Scholz C, Nickel J, Friebe A, Addicks K, Ergün S, Lehmann PV, Kuerten S
Acta Neuropathol, 134(2):281-29 (2017)
Nimodipine fosters remyelination in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis and induces microglia-specific apoptosis
Schampel A, Volovitch O, Koeniger T, Scholz CJ, Jörg S, Linker RA, Wischmeyer E, Wunsch M, Hell JW, Ergün S, Kuerten S
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 114(16):E3295-E3304 (2017)
Tertiary lymphoid organ development coincides with determinant spreading of the myelin-specific T cell response
Kuerten S, Schickel A, Kerkloh C, Recks MS, Addicks K, Ruddle NH, Lehmann PV
Acta Neuropathol, 124(6):861-873 (2012)