Department of Ophthalmology
Translational Experimental Ophthalmology Cologne (TEO-C)
University of Cologne
Weyertal 115c
50931 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49-(0)221-478-32785
Email: thomas.clahsen@uk-koeln.de
Dr. rer.-nat. Thomas Clahsen

Projects:
Project leader
Scientific career
1996-2003 Study of Biology at the RWTH-Aachen University (Diploma in Biology)
2003-2008 PhD (summa cum laude) at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical School of the RWTH Aachen University
Since 2008 Member of the Signal Transduction Society (STS)
2008-2015 Postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center of the RWTH Aachen University
Since 2014 German Society of Immunology (DGfI)
2016- Postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Ophthalmology, University Cologne
Since 2016 Project manager of Project 2 “Identification of novel endogenous modulators of (inflammatory) lymphangiogenesis by analyzing mouse strain-specific differences” in the DFG Research Unit FOR 2240 “Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis and Cellular Immunity in Inflammatory Diseases of the Eye” at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne
Since 2017 Member of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
Since 2018 Principal Investigator of Project P2 “Identification of novel endogenous modulators of developmental and inflammatory lymphangiogenesis by analyzing mouse strain-specific differences” in the DFG Research Unit FOR 2240 “Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis and Cellular Immunity in Inflammatory Diseases of the Eye” at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne
Since 2019 Member of the German Ophthalmologic Society (DOG)
Since 2022 Project Leader of the DFG grand CL751/2-1
Prizes and honors
2008 Travel Grant 12th Joint Meeting: Signal Transduction: Receptors, Mediators and Genes
2010 Borchers Plakette
2019 DOG-Patent Price
2019 Best Paper Award – Highlights in Translational Science: Cornea and Limbus
2022 DOG start-up funding for DFG application
Selected publications
- Clahsen T, Hadrian K, Notara M, Schlereth SL, Howaldt A, […]Cursiefen C. (2022) The novel role of lymphatic vessel in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases. Prog Retin Eye Res. accepted
- Hatami N, Buttner C, Bock F, Simfors S, Musial G, Reis A, Cursiefen C, Clahsen T. (2022) Cystathionine beta-synthase as novel endogenous regulator of lymphangiogenesis via modulating VEGF receptor 2 and 3. Commun Biol. 5:95
- Hribek A, Mestanoglu M, Clahsen T, Reinking N, Frentzen F, Howaldt A, Siebelmann S, Bachmann BO, Cursiefen C, Matthaei M. Scheimpflug Backscatter Imaging of the Fibrillar Layer in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022;235:63-70.
- Hatami N, Buttner C, Bock F, Simfors S, Musial G, Reis A, Cursiefen C, Clahsen T. Cystathionine beta-synthase as novel endogenous regulator of lymphangiogenesis via modulating VEGF receptor 2 and 3. Commun Biol. 2022;5:950.
- Hribek A, Clahsen T, Horstmann J, Siebelmann S, Loreck N, Heindl LM, Bachmann BO, Cursiefen C, Matthaei M. Fibrillar Layer as a Marker for Areas of Pronounced Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss in Advanced Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021;222:292-301.
- Hayashi T, Hos D, Schrittenlocher S, Siebelmann S, Matthaei M, Franklin J, Clahsen T, Bock F, Bachmann B, Cursiefen C. Effect of Iris Color on the Outcome of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty. Cornea. 2020;39:846-50.
- Clahsen T, Buttner C, Hatami N, Reis A, Cursiefen C. Role of Endogenous Regulators of Hem- And Lymphangiogenesis in Corneal Transplantation. J Clin Med. 2020;9.
- Matthaei M, Hribek A, Clahsen T, Bachmann B, Cursiefen C, Jun AS. Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: Clinical, Genetic, Pathophysiologic, and Therapeutic Aspects. Annu Rev Vis Sci. 2019;5:151-75.
- Hos D, Matthaei M, Bock F, Maruyama K, Notara M, Clahsen T, Hou Y, Le VNH, Salabarria AC, Horstmann J, Bachmann BO, Cursiefen C. Immune reactions after modern lamellar (DALK, DSAEK, DMEK) versus conventional penetrating corneal transplantation. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2019;73:100768.
- Buttner C, Clahsen T, Regenfuss B, Dreisow ML, Steiber Z, Bock F, Reis A, Cursiefen C. Tyrosinase Is a Novel Endogenous Regulator of Developmental and Inflammatory Lymphangiogenesis. Am J Pathol. 2019;189:440-8.