Curriculum Vitae

Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Langmann

Department of Ophthalmology
Experimental Immunology of the Eye
University of Cologne
Kerpener Straße 62
50937 Cologne, Germany
Tel. (+49)-221-478 7324
Fax. (+49)-221-478 84591
Email: thomas.langmann@uk-koeln.de

Scientific career

1990-1995 Study of Biology at the University of Regensburg, Diploma in Biology

1995-1998 PhD (magna cum laude) at the University of Regensburg

1999-2000 DFG Postdoctoral fellow at Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine,Boston, USA (Laboratory of Prof. Dr. Daniel Tenen)

2000 – 2004 Senior Scientist, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine at the University Hospital of Regensburg

2002 – 2005 Principal Investigator, SFB585 (Regulation of intestinal immune functions)

2004 Habilitation and Venia Legendi at the Faculty of Natural Sciencies, University of Regensburg

2004 – 2006 Privatdozent at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg

2006 -2010 Privatdozent and group leader at the Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg

2008 – 2012 Principal Investigator, FOR1075 (Homeostasis of the retina)

2010 -2012 University Professor (W2) for Retinal Degeneration at the Institute of Human Genetics (Pro Retina foundation professorship), University of Regensburg

2012- University Professor (W3) and Chair in Experimental Immunology of the Eye, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne

2014- Basic science advisor for the German Retina Society

2014- COST Action BM1302

2015- Vice-Speaker 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

2015- Principal Investigator of Project 6 “Role of the complement system and microglia in age-related macular degeneration” 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

2018- Principal Investigator of Project 6 “Role of complement receptors and microglia in age-related macular degeneration” 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

2019- Primo loco (declined), W3 Professorship Experimental and Clinicla Retinology, University of Münster

2021- Vice Dean for Research Infrastructure, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne

2021- Chair of the Tenure Committee, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne

Prizes and honors

1994 Oskar-Karl-Forster-Stipend for young gifted students

2001 Young Investigators Award – European Atherosclerosis Society

2002 Young Investigators Award – European Lipoprotein Club

2004 Ivar-Trautschold-Prize of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

2006 Research Award of the Foundation for Pathobiochemistry and Molecular Diagnostics

2009 Program Committee member European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society (EMDS) Meeting

2012 Novartis EYENovative Ophthalmic Research Award

2014 Visionary of the Quarter nominated by the European Vision Institute

2017 Theodor Axelfeld Prize

2018 Dr. Gaide AMD prize for excellence in research in the area of age-related macula degeneration (AMD)

Selected publications

Hata M, Andriessen EMMA, Hata M, Diaz-Marin R, Fournier F, Crespo-Garcia S, Blot G, Juneau R, Pilon F, Dejda A, Guber V, Heckel E, Daneault C, Calderon V, Des Rosiers C, Melichar HJ, Langmann T, Joyal JS, Wilson AM, Sapieha P. (2023) Past history of obesity triggers persistent epigenetic changes in innate immunity and exacerbates neuroinflammation. Science 379:45-62.

Tabel M, Wolf A, Szczepan M, Xu H, Jägle H, Moehle C, Chen M, Langmann T. (2022) Genetic targeting or pharmacological inhibition of galectin-3 dampens microglia reactivity and delays retinal degeneration J Neuroinflammation. 19:229

Uemura A, Fruttiger M, D’Amore PA, De Falco S, Joussen AM, Sennlaub F, Brunck LR, Johnson KT, Lambrou GN, Rittenhouse KD, Langmann T. VEGFR1 signaling in retinal angiogenesis and microinflammation. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2021 Sep;84:100954.

Wolf A, Herb M, Schramm M, Langmann T. The TSPO-NOX1 axis controls phagocyte-triggered pathological angiogenesis in the eye. Nat Commun. 2020 Jun1;11(1):2709.

Wolf A, Langmann T. Anti-VEGF-A/ANG2 combotherapy limits pathological angiogenesis in the eye: a replication study. EMBO Mol Med. 2019 May;11(5):e10362.

Balser C, Wolf A, Herb M, Langmann T. Co-inhibition of PGF and VEGF blocks their expression in mononuclear phagocytes and limits neovascularization and leakage in the murine retina. J Neuroinflammation. 2019 Feb 7;16(1):26.

Akhtar-Schäfer I, Wang L, Krohne TU, Xu H, Langmann T. Modulation of three key innate immune pathways for the most common retinal degenerative diseases. EMBO Mol Med. 2018 Oct;10(10):e8259.

Dannhausen K, Möhle C, Langmann T. Immunomodulation with minocycline rescuesretinal degeneration in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis mice highly susceptible to light damage. Dis Model Mech. 2018 Sep 5;11(9):dmm033597.

Cursiefen C, Bock F, Clahsen T, Regenfuss B, Reis A, Steven P, Heindl LM, Bosch JJ, Hos D, Eming S, Grajewski R, Heiligenhaus A, Fauser S, Austin J, Langmann T. [New Therapeutic Approaches in Inflammatory Diseases of the Eye – Targeting Lymphangiogenesis and Cellular Immunity: Research Unit FOR 2240 Presents Itself]. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2017 May;234(5):679-685.

Karlstetter M, Sorusch N, Caramoy A, Dannhausen K, Aslanidis K, Fauser S, Boesl MR, Nagel-Wolfrum K, Tamm ER, Jägle H, Stoehr H, Wolfrum U, Langmann T (2014) Disruption of the Retinitis Pigmentosa 28 gene Fam161a in mice affects photoreceptor ciliary structure and leads to progressive retinal degeneration. Hum Mol Genet (doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu242 First published online: May 15, 2014).

Karlstetter M, Nothdurfter C, Aslanidis A, Moeller K, Horn F, Scholz R, Neumann H, Weber BH, Rupprecht R, Langmann T (2014) Translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is expressed in reactive retinal microglia and modulates microglial inflammation and phagocytosis. J Neuroinflammation 11:3.

Karlstetter M, Walczak Y, Weigelt K, Ebert S, Van den Brulle J, Schwer H, Fuchshofer R, Langmann T (2010) The novel activated microglia/macrophage WAP domain protein, AMWAP, acts as a counter-regulator of proinflammatory response. J Immunol 185:3379-3390.

Langmann T, Di Gioia SA, Rau I, Stohr H, Maksimovic NS, Corbo JC, Renner AB, Zrenner E, Kumaramanickavel G, Karlstetter M, Arsenijevic Y, Weber BH, Gal A, Rivolta C (2010) Nonsense mutations in FAM161A cause RP28-associated recessive retinitis pigmentosa. Am J Hum Genet 87:376-381.

Corbo JC, Lawrence KA, Karlstetter M, Myers CA, Abdelaziz M, Dirkes W, Weigelt K, Seifert M, Benes V, Fritsche LG, Weber BH, Langmann T (2010) CRX ChIP-seq reveals the cis-regulatory architecture of mouse photoreceptors. Genome Res 20:1512-1525.