Dr. rer. nat. Uta Gehlsen

Scientific career

2003Diploma Biology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg

2004-2009 PhD-student Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Department Developmental Biology

2009 PhD (magna cum laude), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg

2009 – 2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Lübeck, Eye Hospital and Institute of Anatomy

since 2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cologne, Department of Ophthalmology, Ocular Surface Group

2015-2018 Affiliated Scientist in the Central Project 1 “Cologne Experimental Eye Imaging Center (CEE-IC)” 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

2016 Short term research visit Duke University (North Carolina), Department of Ophthalmology, (Prof. D. Saban)

since 2018 Co-Supervisor in the EU funded Marie-Curie Program ITN-DED3 “Integrated Training in Dry Eye Disease Drug Development”

since 2018 Principal Investigator of Project N1 “Lymph- and hemangiogenesis in ocular Graft-versus-Host Disease” 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

Prizes and honors

2010 Dry Eye Research Prize, German Ophthalmological Society, Berlin

2011 GlaxoSmithKline Travel Grant (ARVO 2011, Fort Lauderdale)

2011 Dry Eye Research Prize, German Ophthalmological Society, Berlin

2012 Dry Eye Research Prize, German Ophthalmological Society, Berlin

2012 Bausch & Lomb Travel Grant (Young Investigator Symposium, ISER 2012, Berlin)

2014 Science Prize for Dry Eye and Blepharitis/Meibom-Gland-Dysfunction (MGD), German Ophthalmological Society, Berlin

2017 Science Prize for Dry Eye and Blepharitis/Meibom-Gland-Dysfunction (MGD), German Ophthalmological Society, Berlin

Selected Publications

Steven, P., Braun, T., Kroesser, S., Gehlsen, U. (2017): Influence of aging on severity and anti-inflammatory treatment of experimental dry eye disease. KLIMOS 234: 662-669.

Gehlsen, U., Braun, T., Notara, M., Kroesser, 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. Graphes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 255(4): 767-775.

Osae, E., Gehlsen, U., Horstmann, J., Siebelmann, S., Stern, M., Kumah, D.B., Steven, P. (2017): Epidemiology of Dry Eye Disease in Africa: the Sparse Information, Gaps and Opportunities. Ocular Surface. 15(2): 159-168.

Tahmaz, V., Gehlsen, U., Sauerbier, L., Holtick, U., Engel, L., Radojska, S., Petrescu-Jipa, V., Scheid, C., Hallek, M., Gathof, B., Cursiefen. C., Steven, P. (2016): Treatment of severe chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease using 100% autologous serum eye drops from a sealed manufacturing system: a retrospective cohort study. British Journal Ophthalmology 101(3): 322-326.)

Steven P., Sauerbier, L., Siebelmann, S., Gehlsen, U., Tahmaz V, Wittig, S., Scheid, C., Cursiefen, C. (2015): Therapy for Ocular-Graft-vs-Host-Disease. KLIMOS: 232(5): 658-63.

Gehlsen, U., Szaszák, M., Gebert, A., Koop, N., Hüttmann, G., Steven, P. (2015): Non-Invasive Multi-Dimensional Two-Photon Microscopy enables optical fingerprinting (TPOF) of immune cells. Journal of Biophotonics: 8(6): 466-479.

Bucher, F., Bi, Y., Gehlsen, U., Hos, D., Cursiefen, C., Bock, F. (2014): Regression of Mature Lymphatic Vessels in the Cornea by Photodynamic Therapy. British Journal Ophthalmology 98: 391-395.

Gehlsen, U., Cursiefen, C., Steven, P. (2014): Grundlagen allergischer Erkrankungen der Augen-oberfläche und aktuelle medikamentöse Therapiekonzepte. KLIMOS 231(5): 490-495.

Siebelmann,*, S. and Gehlsen,* U., Hüttmann G., Koop, N., Bölke, T., Gebert, A., Stern, M.E., Niederkorn, J., Steven, P. (2013): Development, alteration and realtime dynamics of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue. PLoSOne 8(12):e82355 * Shared First-authorship

Gehlsen, U., Oetke, A., Szaszák, M., Koop, N., Paulsen, F., Gebert, A., Huettmann, G., Steven, P. (2012): Two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging monitors metabolic changes during wound healing of corneal epithelial cell in vitro. Graephes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 250(9): 1293-1302.

Gehlsen, U., Hüttmann, G., Steven, P. (2010): Intravital multidimensional real-time imaging of the conjunctival immune system. Dev. Ophthalmol. 45: 40-48.