New SFB 1607 Launched – Building on the Foundations of FOR2240

We are proud to share exciting news from the field of ophthalmology: The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the establishment of the new Collaborative Research Center (“Sonderforschungsbereich”) SFB 1607, titled “Towards immunomodulatory and anti(lymph)angiogenic therapies for age-related blinding eye diseases”, headed by Prof. Dr. med. Claus Cursiefen.
This milestone marks a significant achievement for our research community and highlights the lasting impact of the work carried out by our DFG Research Unit FOR2240. Insights generated by our group played a crucial role in paving the way for SFB 1607 – a development we view with both pride and optimism.
Led by Prof. Dr. Claus Cursiefen, Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Cologne, SFB 1607 will focus on understanding and treating age-related eye diseases that can lead to blindness, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and corneal dystrophies. These conditions affect more than half of the population over the age of 60 and are expected to become increasingly prevalent in aging societies.
SFB 1607 aims to unravel how pathological immune responses and abnormal growth of blood and lymphatic vessels contribute to these diseases. The SFB’s vision is to translate fundamental scientific findings into novel therapeutic strategies – a goal that directly continues the mission of FOR2240.
We are particularly thrilled that the groundwork laid by our research group has contributed to this new chapter in ocular research. SFB 1607 will receive approximately €13 million in funding for its first phase, running from April, 2024 until the end of 2027. With its unique focus and strong interdisciplinary collaboration, the SFB is poised to become a leading force in the field of vision science.
We congratulate the entire team and look forward to following their groundbreaking work.