On October 13th, EBM Spokesperson Paul Steinmann led a hands-on workshop on stiffness and viscosity. Participants explored force, strain, and stress using rubber bands, springs, and even a gummy-bear brain, making complex concepts tangible.

What a night at the Long Night of Sciences 2025! EBM and BRAINIACS group welcomed visitors at the Brain Lounge to explore how mechanics shapes the brain - from real human tissue to 3D printing and MRE. At the department of neurosurgery, visitors were guided trough the MEG lab.

EBM at the Long Night of Science 2025 - Discover Brain Mechanics! 🧠 #NdW25 📅 25.10.2025 from 17:00 - 0:00 📍Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin; Kussmaulallee 2 in 91054 Erlangen

🧠 The International EBM Symposium 2025 was held on Sept 30 - Oct 1, 2025, at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen.

☀️ On Sept 28, EBM members & families met at the Entlas-Keller in Erlangen. Sunshine, Franconian food, and good company made for a relaxed afternoon to reconnect after summer and recharge before the busy months ahead. Thanks to all who came by! 🍻

At the 15th EBM (Post)Doctoral Researchers' seminar on September 18th, two projects were presented. 🧠 Stefan Rampp (A02) presented how cortical malformations can be characterized by neuroimaging and linking these findings to brain tissue mechanics.

We are proud to announce that our PI, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini, has received the prestigious George Winter Award from the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB), honoring pioneers whose work has made lasting contributions to biomaterials.

Upcoming EBM Virtual Brain Talk 🧠 We are excited to announce our next virtual brain talk: "There and back again - The translational journey in modern Neurosurgery" Speaker: Prof. Dr.med. Oliver Schnell (UKER, Germany) 📅 22.09.2025 ⏰ 4:00 PM (CEST) 💻 Online via Zoom

In our project C01, we proposed a nonlinear continuum mechanics framework to model the physics of cellular aggregate formation.

Using genetic manipulations, project B05 investigates a link between the mechanical and biochemical properties of spinal cord lesions and axon regeneration in zebrafish.

In project B04, we study the impact of mechanobiology on the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The mechanosensory ion channel Piezo1 (red) is upregulated on astrocytes (green) in a mouse model of MS.

B03 aims to investigate the mechanical phenotype of the central nervous system (CNS) at the cellular and tissue-wide levels following targeted manipulations, utilizing in vivo and in vitro models.

B02 focuses on understanding the mechanical properties of the spinal cord in Xenopus laevis using advanced techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Brillouin microscopy.

🧠 A new exciting paper from our EBM scientists: In this study, a brain phantom material was characterized in the time domain using a rheometer in the mid-frequency range at a vibration table and in the high-frequency range with tabletop magnetic resonance elastography.

Project B01 aims to understand the complex mechanical signature of spinal cord tissue before and after injury to develop continuum models that simulate the process of successful regeneration.

In vivo model to study the mechanics of developmental brain disorders: Project A05 investigates how specific somatic mutations affect the mechanical properties of developing brain tissue.

🧠On June 26, 2025, a hands-on workshop led by Renato Frischknecht explored the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal plasticity. From theory to live cell culture demos and fluorescence imaging,participants gained deep insight into how neurons adapt and learn. #Neuroscience#NeuronalPlasticity

📢 Regular Registration Open – EBM Symposium 2025 There’s still time to register for the Exploring Brain Mechanics Symposium 2025, taking place from September 30 to October 1, 2025, at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, Germany.

The EBM project A04 investigates how manipulating mechanical forces affects the lineage decision of stem cells in human brain organoids, utilizing methods such as atomic force microscopy (AFM).

🧠 Doctoral Reseachers' Seminar June 2025 Last Friday, 13th June, against the back drop of Erlangen's traditional Bergkirchweih festival, Maik Hintze (B04) and Rahul Ramachandran (B01) shared their latest findings in the 14th EBM doctoral researcher's seminar.

🧠 On May 22, EBM researchers from projects A01, A02, A05, and C03 gathered at the Neuropathology Department of @Universitätsklinikum Erlangen for a lab shadowing session organized by Prof. Ingmar Blümcke.

Oskar Neumann (project B01) finished a month-long secondment in Prof Franz’s Mechanobiology Lab @UCT 🇿🇦

🧠 Great discussions at the EBM (Post-)Doctoral Seminar on April 25 at MPZPM!

🧠 Today! EBM Virtual Brain Mechanics Talk – June 2, 2025 Don’t miss today’s talk in the EBM Virtual Brain Mechanics Talk series: 🎙️ Title: Cellular Aggregates as Active Materials 👤 Speaker: Prof. Dr. Vasily Zaburdaev (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) 🕓 Time: 4:00 PM (GMT+2)

🚀 On May 20th, the workshop “The Essentials of Starting a Start-up” took place at ZOLLHOF Nuremberg, empowering researchers to explore entrepreneurship! 🚀

🧠Upcoming EBM Virtual Brain Mechanics Talk–June 2, 2025 We are pleased to invite you to the next talk in the EBM Virtual Brain Mechanics Talk series: 🎙️Title:Cellular Aggregates as Active Materials 👤Speaker:Prof. Dr. Vasily Zaburdaev (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) 🗓Date:June 2, 2025 ⏰Time:4:00 PM (GMT+2)

⏳ Last Chance for Early Bird Registration – EBM Symposium 2025 Join us from September 30 to October 1, 2025, at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, Germany, for an international symposium hosted by CRC 1540 at FAU.

Project A03 🧠🐸 Isolated Xenopus laevis neural plates cultured on hydrogels recapitulate early brain, CNS, and eye development. This system enables precise dissection of how mechanical cues modulate morphogenesis and cellular signaling in neurodevelopment. A powerful mechano-biology model. 🧠🐸

🧠 7th EBM Seminar Talk – May 22, 2025 We are pleased to host Prof. Dr. Xianqiao Wang (University of Georgia, USA) for a seminar on: “Harnessing AI/Data-Empowered Computational Models in Brain Mechanics and Nano-Bio Interfaces”

🧠 Upcoming EBM Seminar Talk – May 19, 2025 Join us for a talk by Dr. Johannes Weickenmeier (St. Cross College, Oxford, UK): “Towards Validation of Numerically Predicted Brain Shape Changes in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease”

The MRI subproject of A02 investigates neuroimaging characteristics of brain malformations, such as focal cortical dysplasias. Among others, we explore their correlates with structural MRI, MRI postprocessing and diffusion-weighted imaging.

From MRI to Gene Expression - Mapping the Brain with Deep Histopathology Genotyping. We're pushing the boundaries in Project A02, combining MRI, histopathology, cellular pathology, and spatial transcriptomics to decode brain cortical malformations at multiple levels.

On March 21, 2025, the EBM consortium hosted a harmonization workshop on Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) at the ZMPT. The workshop gave participants a deeper understanding of MRE principles and its applications in research. A valuable learning experience for all involved!

🔬 Lab Shadowing!🥼 At the end of march, Clara Froidevaux (A03) and Shanice Heidenreich (C04) worked together to prepare mouse brain slices using a vibratome (see image). These slices will provide valuable insights into the metastasis of melanoma to the brain.

🧠 EBM Symposium 2025 – Early Bird Registration Now Open! We are pleased to announce the Exploring Brain Mechanics Symposium 2025, organized by CRC 1540 at FAU. 🗓 Date: September 30 to October 1, 2025 🏢 Location: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, Germany

Linking Histology to Brain Mechanics. In Project A02, we study the histological and molecular features of cortical malformations of the brain like MOGHE (mild Malformation of cortical development with OligodendroGlial Hyperplasia in Epilepsy).

🔬 Lab Shadowing! 🥼 Earlier this month, Michael Tranchina (A04) and Nina Reiter (B01, BRAINIACS) teamed up to investigate the mechanical properties of 88-day-old organoids using a rheometer.

EBM Virtual Brain Talk: 📢 EBM PI Prof. Dr. Ben Fabry: "Universal Scaling Laws in Cell and Tissue Mechanics" 🗓 Date: March 31, 2025 ⏰ Time: 4:00 PM GMT+2 💻 Virtual Event (via Zoom) 📩 To receive the Zoom link, contact EBM coordinator Andrea Dakkouri-Baldauf ([email protected])

From surgery to brain folds and vice versa: In Project A01, we have established a pipeline to mechanically test resected epilepsy brain tissue and subsequently infer cell densities from histological stains in collaboration with projects A02 and X02.

🚨 New Research Alert! 🚨 Our latest study in Acta Neuropathologica explores MOGHE, a rare epilepsy-associated brain disorder, and its link to SLC35A2 variants. We uncover altered protein distribution, hypomyelination, and potential new pathomechanisms in affected individuals.

On February 20, Jana Bachir Salvador (B03) and Ezgi Erterek (C02) hosted the Doctoral Researcher’s Seminar, sharing their research on CNS tissue mechanics using Brillouin microscopy/ AFM indentation and how ECM properties influence neuronal plasticity and methods to modify them.

Very excited to share this new #OpenAccess review by #EBM PhD student Sophia Auer on the role of perineuronal nets (PNNs) in modulating synaptic plasticity, neuronal excitability, and their implications in neurological diseases. Read the full text here: doi.org/10.3390/cell...

We recently wrapped up a fascinating lab shadowing with the B01 and B05 teams! During the visit, Nora John from Daniel Wehner’s lab (B05) showcased how confocal microscopy is used to image zebrafish larvae during spinal cord regeneration.

🎙️ Introducing The Networking Brain! 🧠 A new podcast by our EBM PI Prof. Dr. Ingolf Sack is now available! The podcast explores how the mechanical networks of the brain work together to process and store information. In Episode 1, you can learn more about:

🎉 The 2nd EBM Update Meeting took place on Friday, January 31 at the "Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin" (MPZPM) Erlangen. Researchers shared halftime updates on each subproject, exchanged ideas, and strengthend collaborations. The day wrapped up with a relaxed closing reception.

Why wrinkles matter: The physics of brain folding! 🧠 On February 8, our EBM PI Prof. Dr. Kristian Franze will give a fascinating talk as part of the Modern Physics on Saturday Morning series at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg!

On December 17, Kristina Karandasheva (C03) and Lars Bischof (C05) hosted the 11th Doctoral Researcher’s Seminar, sharing their exciting research on matrix mechanics in neuronal development and traction force microscopy in 3D hydrogels. The session ended with lively discussions and great questions!

Hallo Bluesky! Wir sind die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. #DFG Als Selbstverwaltungsorganisation der #Wissenschaft in Deutschland fördern wir erkenntnisgeleitete #Forschung. Hier erhaltet Ihr Infos u.a. zu Förderangeboten, Ausschreibungen und Anträgen. Wir freuen uns auf den Austausch!

Welcome to Bluesky! After leaving Twitter/X behind, we would like to re-introduce the EBM - Exploring Brain Mechanics research project!🧠🥼