Maria Notara, PhD

Scientific career

2015- Affiliated scientist at the Post-Doc level in Project 1 “Induction of transplant tolerance by antihem- and antilymphangiogenic therapies” 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

2016- Scientist in the Horizons 2020 research consortium ARREST BLINDNESS, funded by the European Union, an associated project of 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

2018- Principal Invesitgator of N2 “The role of ABCB5-expressing limbal epithelial stem cells in corneal lymphangiogenic privilege and pterygium pathogenesis” of 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

2018- CAP group leader, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne

Selected publications

Notara M, Behboudifard S, Kluth MA, Masslo C, Ganss C, Frank MH, Schumacher B, Cursiefen C (2018) UV light-blocking contact lenses protect against short-term UVB-induced limbal stem cell niche damage and inflammation. Scientific reports 8: 12564

Notara M, Lentzsch A, Coroneo M, Cursiefen C (2018) The Role of Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells in Regulating Corneal (Lymph)angiogenic Privilege and the Micromilieu of the Limbal Niche following UV Exposure. Stem cells international 2018: 8620172

Gehlsen U, Braun T, Notara M, Krosser S, Steven P (2017) A semifluorinated alkane (F4H5) as novel carrier for cyclosporine A: a promising therapeutic and prophylactic option for topical treatment of dry eye. Graefe’s archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie 255: 767-775

Notara M, Refaian N, Braun G, Steven P, Bock F, Cursiefen C (2016) Short-Term Ultraviolet A Irradiation Leads to Dysfunction of the Limbal Niche Cells and an Antilymphangiogenic and Anti-inflammatory Micromilieu. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 57: 928-39

Hos D, Dorrie J, Schaft N, Bock F, Notara M, Kruse FE, Krautwald S, Cursiefen C, Bachmann BO (2016) Blockade of CCR7 leads to decreased dendritic cell migration to draining lymph nodes and promotes graft survival in low-risk corneal transplantation. Experimental eye research 146: 1-6

Refaian N, Schlereth SL, Koch KR, Notara M, Hos D, Mescher M, Iden S, Bosch JJ, Jager MJ, Cursiefen C, Heindl LM (2015) Comparing the Hem- and Lymphangiogenic Profile of Conjunctival and Uveal Melanoma Cell Lines. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 56: 5691-7

Notara M, Refaian N, Braun G, Steven P, Bock F, Cursiefen C (2015) Short-term uvb-irradiation leads to putative limbal stem cell damage and niche cell-mediated upregulation of macrophage recruiting cytokines. Stem cell research 15: 643-654