Researchers at the University of Cologne, in collaboration with national and international partners, have developed a new imaging platform that enables high-resolution three-dimensional visualization of the extracellular matrix in joints and fractures. This reveals previously unknown connections between bone, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels. The method opens up new possibilities for better understanding growth, regeneration, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Related publication:Multidimensional spatial mapping of extracellular matrix: cartilaginous-osseous composite formation, tendon integration, and vascularization during skeletal growth and repair Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (2025), zjag077. doi.org/10.1093/jbmr/zjag077

Valuable insights into current research and an engaging scientific exchange: Dr. Sarah Rieck (Institute of Physiology 1, University of Bonn) presented her seminar, "Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Potential for Modeling (Cardiovascular) Diseases In Vitro," which attracted great interest and sparked a lively discussion. We sincerely thank Dr. Sarah Rieck for her inspiring presentation and look forward to continued scientific exchange.

The seminar by Prof. Dr. Boris Hinz (Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration, Keenan Chair in Fibrosis Research, St. Michael’s Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto) on “Fibroblast activation in tissue repair and fibrosis – why we should care about the environment” attracted great interest from PhD students and PIs alike and sparked lively discussions among the audience. We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Boris Hinz for his inspiring lecture and for sharing valuable insights into his research.

We are excited to announce that a new publication from Project M1, together with our collaborators, has been published in JBMR (Oxford Academic): “Multidimensional Spatial Mapping of Extracellular Matrix: Cartilaginous–Osseous Composite Formation, Tendon Integration and Vascularization During Skeletal Growth and Repair”. Congratulations to Dr. Julia Etich, Prof. Dr. Bent Brachvogel, and all authors who contributed to this outstanding achievement!

We sincerely thank Vahid Shafiei (Institute of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne) for his engaging talk, “Biomimetic Injectable Hydrogels for Osteosarcoma Management and Bone Repair”, and for presenting his exciting scientific work within the framework of FOR2722 Seminar Series. We wish him continued success in his future research and look forward to following the further development of his scientific work.

Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Anja Niehoff (Vice Spokesperson of FOR2722, Project D1) on her election as President of the German Society of Biomechanics! Since March 20, 2026, she has been leading the society. The official handover to the designated president took place during the 14th Annual Meeting of the Society in Hamburg. We wish her every success, joy, and inspiration in this responsible new role and throughout her term of office.

The talk by Dirk Hubmacher, Ph.D., on “Matricellular proteins regulate muscle stem cell behavior: Implications for development, regeneration, and therapeutic applications” sparked highly engaging discussions among the participants and stimulated a productive exchange of ideas between young researchers and PIs.

Prof. Dr. Frank Zaucke was awarded a prize in the Preclinical Models Section at the Annual Meeting of the Orthopedic Research Society for his contribution from Project D2 FOR 2722, entitled “The Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein Retention Receptor KDELR2 Is Essential for Survival and Proper Collagen Quality in the Skeletal System of Mice and Zebrafish.” We warmly congratulate him on this outstanding achievement.

We congratulate the young researchers of FOR 2722 who received an award at the DGMB Conference 2026:

• Alessandra Leone for the best question
• Fady Marcous for the best poster presentation
• Jayasrhee Jayachandran for the best oral presentation

Congratulations on these outstanding achievements!

The talk by Colin Bodemer (Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt), entitled “Substrate stiffness induces accelerated ageing in endothelial cells,” proved to be highly relevant for the members of the FOR2722 as well as for the other seminar participants and was received with great interest.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Schiavinato (FOR2722 Project B1) has been awarded a grant by the Deutschen Gesellschaft für Muskelkranke (DGM). This recognition highlights Dr. Schiavinato’s exceptional expertise and outstanding commitment in the field of “High-resolution analysis of collagen VI-related muscular dystrophies at the cellular level.” 
We extend our warmest congratulations and wish Dr. Schiavinato every success in carrying out the funded projects.

We are pleased to announce that Project D2 of FOR2722 recently published an interesting case of an infant with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The talks presented within Project B2 of the FOR2722 seminar series, by Prof. Dr. Manuel Koch and Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger, provided a comprehensive overview of current research activities. The focus was on the topics “Collagen XII as a Risk Factor for Musculoskeletal Disorders” and “Mapping the Molecular Architecture of the Neuromuscular Junction Using Spatial Proteomics”.

The presentation “Collagen VI assembly and function in musculoskeletal disorders,” delivered as part of Project B1 FOR2722, generated considerable interest and was very well received by the audience.

We are proud of Project D2 and all other members of FOR2722 for receiving the publication award for one of the best papers of 2025 in JPEM for the joint review “Osteogenesis imperfecta: shifting paradigms in pathophysiology and care in children.” This outstanding achievement is a well-deserved recognition of their excellent work.

The talk by Stephanie Fernandes, PhD (MPI AGE) on “Bridging Molecular Mechanisms to Tissue Function: Selective mTORC1 Signalling in Skeletal Muscle Metabolism and Ageing” attracted great interest and was very well received by the audience. We would like to extend our appreciation to Dr. Stephanie Fernandes as well as to all participants of the seminar.

A New Lens on Congenital Mild Bone Fragility: A Novel Col1a1 Knockout Mouse Model for Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 1
We are excited to share a new scientific publication from projects D1 and D2 of FOR2722! This is a remarkable contribution by the entire team – congratulations to Prof. Dr. Anja Niehoff, Prof. Dr. Frank Zaucke, and everyone involved!

The lecture 'Mitochondrial dysfunction in cartilage and its consequences for ECM and joint homeostasis,' presented as part of project M1 FOR2722, was highly interesting and was very well received by the audience

Congratulations to Project D2 FOR2722 and all co-authors on the successful publication of the article: “Urinary calcium and bone resorption markers during 3 years of denosumab treatment in pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta.” We are very pleased with this achievement and congratulate everyone involved on this important scientific milestone!

We greatly enjoyed the lecture by Dr. Emma Fenech (Center for Biochemistry, University of Cologne). Many thanks to all participants who actively engaged, and special thanks to the speaker, Dr. Emma Fenech, for her informative talk: "From organelles to organisms: How exploring endoplasmic reticulum homolog specificity can help uncover health across scales."

We are pleased to announce the upcoming symposium of the Cologne Center for Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (CCMB), which will take place on October 22. The research group FOR2722 will also be represented at the event.t3://file?uid=101229

We are very pleased for Project C1 about the publication of the study “Collagen-binding integrin α11β1 contributes to joint destruction in arthritic hTNFtg mice” and warmly congratulate  Dr. Adelheid Korb-Pap, Prof. Dr. Thomas Pap, and all co-authors on this outstanding work!

The project report from Project D1 on the topic “Unraveling the function of plastin 3 in cartilage health and mechanotransduction” provided fascinating insights into the role of plastin 3 in cartilage health and mechanical signal transduction. We sincerely thank all participants for their interest and contributions.

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new study from Project D2, focusing on the long-term clinical course and molecular mechanisms of TENT5A-associated osteogenesis imperfecta.
TENT5A-associated osteogenesis imperfecta: long-term follow-up and molecular insights.  Congratulations to Oliver Semler, Frank Zaucke, and all co-authors on this outstanding publication!

The presentation of Project M2 from the research group FOR2722 “Fibrillin Propeptides as Clinical Markers” was highly interesting and insightful. The results presented offered exciting insights into the potential of fibrillin propeptides as clinical markers. We thank the speakers for their excellent contribution.

We are delighted to highlight the recent publication in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open: “Immobilization by 21-days of bed rest causes changes in biomarkers of cartilage homeostasis in healthy individuals.”
Our sincere congratulations to Anja Niehoff and all co-authors on this important publication and their valuable contribution to research in the field of cartilage biology!

We warmly congratulate Alvise Schiavinato, Mats Paulsson and all co-authors on the publication of their new paper: “ANTXR2 Deficiency Promotes Cellular Senescence and Chondroid Differentiation in Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome Fibroblasts.” This work represents an important contribution to the understanding of this rare disease. An outstanding achievement – we wish you continued success in your scientific endeavors!

We are pleased to announce that the FOR2722 Mercator Fellow, Prof. Shireen Lamande (Musculoskeletal Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Principal Fellow, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne), visits us from May 26th to 27th. During this time, she will meet with both the FOR2722 colleagues and other scientific staff members.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Prof. Lamande for this wonderful opportunity—not only for professional exchange with the PIs, junior researchers, and scientists from Biochemistry but also to enhance the international visibility and global outreach of the FOR2722.

The talk by Project D3 FOR2722, titled “Deciphering the role of secretory pathways in the reciprocal connection between the cellular nutrient sensing machinery and the extracellular matrix,” was a great success and generated considerable interest.

A new milestone in biomedical research: "A fluorescent sensor for real-time monitoring of DPP8/9 reveals crucial roles in immunity and cancer" has just been published. This innovative work opens new doors in understanding immune regulation and cancer biology. Congratulations to Bent Brachvogel and Julia Etich for their valuable contribution – and to all co-authors on this successful publication!

We are pleased to announce the publication of the article “Annexin A5 controls VDAC1-dependent mitochondrial Ca²⁺ homeostasis and determines cellular susceptibility to apoptosis.” This is an outstanding contribution to the study of mitochondrial regulatory mechanisms and cellular apoptosis. We warmly congratulate Bent Brachvogel as a co-author, as well as all other authors, on this excellent scientific achievement!

We are excited to announce the publication of a new article from Project M1 FOR2722: “Metabolic rewiring caused by mitochondrial dysfunction promotes mTORC1-dependent skeletal aging” This study provides new insights into how mitochondrial dysfunction promotes skeletal aging via mTORC1 signaling, shedding light on the underlying metabolic mechanisms of aging. Congratulations to Bent Brachvogel, Julia Etich and all co-authors and collaborators! For more information, please follow this link: Funktionsstörung von Mitochondrien beeinflusst die Skelettalterung

We are delighted about the new publication from project D2 of the FOR 2722. Congratulations to Frank Zaucke and the collaborators on the publication:"Restoring articular cartilage: insights from structure, composition and development"!

The lecture on Project D2 focused on the central role of the extracellular matrix in non-classical Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). It was very exciting and sparked lively discussions.

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Kristina Bubb, PhD, former PhD Student of Project M1, on receiving the prestigious Young Investigator Award at the DGMB 2025 in Freiburg.

We are pleased to highlight a recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which Dr. Heike Hoyer-Kuhn discusses novel therapeutic advances in the treatment of children with achondroplasia: Oral Infigratinib in Children with Achondroplasia – Targeted Treatment

The C2 project of the DFG Research Unit FOR2722 provided fascinating insights into the role of microenvironmental factors in maintaining muscle homeostasis and their relevance to musculoskeletal diseases.

Congratulations to Gerhard Sengle and the project C2 on the publication of their new paper "Prodomain processing controls BMP-10 bioactivity and targeting to fibrillin-1 in latent conformation" in collaboration with the partners!

New research by AG Sengle & Alvise Schiavinato uncovers the key role of EMILIN proteins in skin aging, UV damage, and scleroderma. These ECM markers offer insights into tracking dermal changes in aging and disease: New insights into the structural role of EMILINs within the human skin microenvironment

Dr. Hajar Maleki’s talk on “„Healing from Within: Biomimetische Hybrid-Aerogele als extrazelluläre Matrix für die Knochenregeneration“” was met with great interest and impressed the audience with a clear, interdisciplinary insight into innovative materials for bone regeneration. Her presentation left a noticeably positive impression and inspired valuable scientific exchange. 

Congratulations to the projects D2 and C2 on their successful and notable contribution to the book The Extracellular Matrix in Genetic Skeletal Disorders, published in 2024."

The talk by Prof. Dr. Dr. nat. med. Miguel A. Alejandre Alcazar on "The Impact of an Early-Life Stress Exposome on Morphogenic Programming Across the Lifespan," generated great enthusiasm as part of the FOR2722 seminar series and sparked lively and inspiring discussions among the participants.

Congratulations on the publication of the D2 Sefanie Stasek and Oliver Semler. project! A special thanks to all collaboration partners for the successful teamwork and outstanding achievement!" Osteogenesis imperfecta: shifting paradigms in pathophysiology and care in children. 

Congratulations to Etich J. and Brachvogel B. Project M1 on the new publication in collaboration with partners! Constitutive HIF-1α expression in the epidermis fuels proliferation and is essential for effective barrier formation.

Prof. Dr.Ingolf Sack (Charité – University Medicine Berlin.) talk within the "Science and Sandwiches" seminar successfully created a seamless transition between clinical studies and research. We would like to sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Ingolf Sack for his contribution.

Congratulations to Steffen Luetke from the M1 project of FOR2722 for winning the Best Oral Presentation Award at the European Elastin Meeting in Reims! The award was presented for his talk, "Characterization of New Functional Interactions of Hemicentins within the Elastin/Fibrillin Microfibril Network." A fantastic achievement and a well-deserved recognition of his excellent work!

We congratulate Constantinos Demetriades Project D3 and his collaborators on the publication of the new paper "Spatial and functional separation of mTORC1 signalling in response to different amino acid sources".

The Annual Meeting 2024 was a great success! A huge thank you to all participants for presenting their innovative projects and to our invited guests for their insightful and thought-provoking talks. We are excited about potential collaborations and the many future opportunities that lie ahead

Congratulations to Etich J. and Brachvogel B. Project M1 on the new publication in collaboration with partners! Mitochondrial DNA mutations attenuate Bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis by inhibiting differentiation into myofibroblasts​​​​​​​

Congratulations on the outstanding collaboration between Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirth (Project D1) and her colleagues on the recent publication titled Functional Insights in PLS3-Mediated Osteogenic Regulation.

Congratulations to the M1 PhD student Isabell Bleile for winning the poster prize at the DGMB conference!
We are very proud of Isabell and wish her continued success in the future.

The presentation by Alina Hinderks, a PhD student from Project C1 of FOR2722, on “Matrix-mediated Fibroblast Activation in Rheumatoid Arthritis” was very successful and highly interesting for the attendees. The research group is pleased to support junior scientists in their presentations and is thrilled with the success of the talk.

Congratulations to Tanvi Parashar on being awarded the DGMB travel grant to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of the DGMB in Regensburg! 

Congratulations to our PI and Vice-Speaker of FOR2722, Prof. Dr. Anja Niehoff! As of June 21, 2024, she has been appointed as the Network Spokesperson for the "Musculoskeletal Biomechanics" cluster within the Basic Research Section of the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery.

The lecture by Tobias Siebert and André Tomalka from the University of Stuttgart, Motion and Exercise Science, titled: "The relationship between muscle fiber structure, force generation, and muscle function," was particularly interesting for the members of FOR2722 and sparked several discussions.

Congratulations to our PI and Vice Speaker of FOR2722 Prof. Dr. Anja Niehoff on being appointed as the designated President of the German Society for Biomechanics on April 25, 2024!

In their study "ANTXR1 deficiency promotes fibroblast senescence: implications for GAPO syndrome as a progeroid disorder", the researchers from projekt B1 Schiavinato A., Paulsson M. along with other collaborators have discovered an unanticipated link between ANTXR1 – a cell receptor involved in anthrax toxin uptake – and cellular senescence. Mutations in ANTXR1 cause GAPO syndrome. Based on their results, the researchers identify GAPO syndrome as a form of progeroid disorder. This finding opens the door for future studies aimed at investigating the mechanistic roles of anthrax toxin receptors in human aging and potential therapeutic interventions. 

We were delighted to welcome Li Zeng from the Immunology department at Tufts University, Boston, to our FOR2722 Seminar Series. Li Zeng was delivering a talk on the exciting topic of "Regulators of Osteoarthritis."

The presentation by Muzamil Majid Khan, a member of the Pepperkok Group at EMBL in Heidelberg, on "Exploring Pulmonary Fibrosis: From Model Systems to Drug Discovery," has generated significant interest and sparked lively discussions.

We are pleased to highlight the recent publication “Immobilization by 21 days of bed rest results in type II collagen degradation in healthy individuals.” Congratulations to Anja Niehoff, Frank Zaucke, and the entire author team on this important publication and their valuable contribution to advancing the understanding of the effects of immobilization on joint metabolism!

Congratulations on the outstanding success in Project D1: Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirth and colleagues have published the article titled “Osteoclast-specific Plastin 3 knockout in mice fail to develop osteoporosis despite dramatically increased osteoclast resorption activity.”

Dr. Serife Akgül from the Center of Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, presenting on "Elucidating the role of Netrin-1 as a novel modulator of FGF signaling during embryonic development of C. elegans" as part of the FOR2722 seminar series.

Congratulations to our PI Anja Niehoff on being elected member of the DFG-"Fachkollegium" 2024 and many thanks to our PI Thomas Pap for supporting the  "Fachkollegium" in the last period from 2019 to 2023!

In 2023, the Cologne Center for Genetic Skin and Connective Tissue Disorders became a member of the newly established Ehlers-Danlos Society Centers and Networks of Excellence Program (EDS CNE). The Center is a subcenter of the Cologne University Center for Rare Diseases and offers an interdisciplinary care for children and adults with Ehlers-Danlos-Syndromes.

The goal is to improve the clinical care for the German Ehlers-Danlos patients and together with the FOR2722 Musculoskeletal Extracellular Research Group to create a translational platform for studying these rare disorders.

Congratulations to Kristina Bubb on the successful defense of her doctoral thesis with the topic "Crosstalk between mitochondrial respiratory chain, metabolic signaling, and cartilage homeostasis" with distinction! We are extremely grateful for her outstanding work over the past years and wish her much success on her future journey.

FOR2722 Seminar Series Get-together: Prof. Véronique Lefebvre (Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) in discussion with junior PhD students after her successful presentation. An opportunity for professional exchange and networking.

Kristina Bubb has been rewarded with a travel grant from IUBMB for a short research stay at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot and participation in the international conference “ISF Workshop on Mitochondria: past and present”.
Congratulations Kristina!

Together with the Wagener, Paulsson, Schiavinato and Niehoff groups, Gerhard Sengle has published a new paper with the title:
"EMILIN1 deficiency causes arterial tortuosity with osteopenia and connects impaired elastogenesis with defective collagen fibrillogenesis"

Congratulations to Julian Nüchel for winning the Dick Heinegård Young Investigator Award at Matrix Biology Europe 2022. Well done Julian!

Congratulations to Daniela Mählich from the Niehoff lab on being awarded the “Young Investigator Award” from the German Society for Biomechanics with her project “The influence of plastin 3 on mechanotransduction in articular cartilage”. Well done Daniela!

Impressions from the latest FOR2722 Seminar where Thorsten Hoppe from the Institute of Genetics and CECAD at the University of Cologne inspired us all with his exciting talk about protein homeostasis and aging. It was wonderful to meet again in person and discuss science.