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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🧠🔬 Exploring the role of mechanics in brain development! On July, 23, EBM (post)doctoral researchers came together for the latest Doctoral Researchers' Seminar at the Institute of Biochemistry.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

⚙️𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 Spinal cord tissue is ultrasoft, structurally complex and difficult to characterize mechanically. This creates a major challenge for computational models of spinal cord injury, disease and regeneration: which material parameters should be used?

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

How Do You Feel - Symposium in Memory of Jochen Guck

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

🧠🔬How do mechanical environments influence developing human brain organoids? During a recent EBM lab shadowing, researchers from A04, A05, and B02 combined hydrogels, organoids, and AFM measurements to study compartment-specific tissue mechanics during early neural development.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Shear wave speed images acquired on the Institute’s new 3-T Cima.X scanner, following successful implementation of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) on 3-T Vida, and former 3-T Prisma systems.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Intense days for EBM! CRC 1540 Exploring Brain Mechanics welcomed the DFG review panel to FAU for the on-site evaluation of our proposal for a second funding period.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

🧠🌎 Join us at WCCM-ECCOMAS 2026! We're excited to announce the minisymposium MS032 - Exploring Brain Mechanics 📅 July 19-24, 2026 📍ICM - International Congress Center Messe München

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

🧠 Insights from our EBM (Post-)Doctoral Researchers’ Seminar!

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

🎤✨ Learning how to communicate science effectively! At the workshop “How to Pitch Your Project” with Dr. Stefanie Hülsenbeck, EBM early-career researchers practiced presenting without slides, received individual feedback, and gained valuable insights into effective scientific communication.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

🧬🧠 Multi-omics, molecular biology & computational workflows - all in one workshop! At the latest EBM Harmonization Workshop, Katja Kobow and Paraskevi Chasani introduced EBM researchers to modern approaches for analyzing and integrating complex biological data.

crc1540-ebm.research.fau.eu

From Molecules to Matrices – Inside the EBM Harmonization Workshop

How do you explain the complexities of molecular biology to an audience of physicists, engineers, and materials scientists? That was the goal of PD Dr. rer. nat. Dr. habil. med. Katja Kobow…

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

🎶🧠 Science meets music meets baroque architecture! “Das Gehirn – Musikalische Erkundungen” transformed the monastery church in Speinshart into an immersive journey through the human brain — with organ music, live science talks & stunning visualizations.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Another exciting open-access #EBM publication! This study explores the mechanical behavior of human and porcine brain tissue, investigating whether porcine tissue could serve as a surrogate for the often difficult-to-obtain human brain tissue.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

X03 aims to engineer artificial brain extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking tissue using hydrogel-based substitute materials with mechanical properties similar to specific regions of native brain tissue.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

🌎🔬 Research exchange at UT Austin! Markus Lorke (X03) worked on neural stem cell culture, hydrogel design & FRAP characterization - with promising results for future experiments in Erlangen. A great step toward stronger collaboration between FAU, UT Austin and the EBM network!

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Excited to share our new #EBM paper: Acute mechanical manipulations and persistent changes in the mechanical environment of human brain organoids direct neural stem cell lineage decisions by shaping early patterning programs and cell-type-specific metabolism.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

X01 addresses the problem of inconsistent results on the mechanical properties of ultrasoft materials such as brain tissue by reconciling data from different ex vivo and in vivo testing techniques, including MRI, MRE, vibration tests, rheometry, indentation, and AFM.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

🧠 Doctoral Researchers' Seminar - March 26, 2026 EBM (post)doctoral researchers came together at the MPZPM Erlangen to share and discuss current work on brain malformations from molecular and mechanical perspectives.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Check out this new EBM #openaccess publication on temporal lobe epilepsy in which region-specific proteomic analysis revealed pronounced neuroinflammatory and extracellular matrix remodeling in the sclerotic hippocampus, accompanied by synaptic alterations in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

4th EBM Retreat - Feb 10-11, 2026 EBM members spent two days in Waischenfeld sharing research updates, discussing project, and connecting across teams. Between talks and scientific programm, there was time for archery, table tennis, and casual chats around the campfire.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

🧠 EBM Virtual Brain Talk On March 23, 2026, we welcome Elijah Van Houten (CNRS, ICube Laboratory, Strasbourg) for an online talk: "Characterizing Brain Mechanics from Cardiac Pressure Pulsations: A Look at Viscoelastic and Poroelastic Interpretations."

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

How do growing neurons find their way through the brain’s soft tissue? In project C05, we explore how axons sense and generate forces in brain-like 3-D matrices. Video by: Lars Bischof

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

On January 23, 2026, EBM (post-)doctoral researchers came together for a doctoral seminar sharing latest research results from the CRC. Konstantin Hein (A07) presented his work on Lamin B1, highlighting its key role in stress-induced mechanical changes and tissue architecture.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

🧠🎶 "Das Gehirn - Musikalische Erkundungen!" Following the great success of our 2024 event in Erlangen, EBM invites you on March 6, 2026 (7:00 p.m.) to a unique multimedia event at the Monastery Church Maria Immaculata in Speinshart.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

After an inspiring "Storytelling & Science" workshop, the EBM community came together for their Annual New Year Celebration! 🎉

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

✨ Impressions from our “Storytelling & Science” Workshop! ✨ On Jan 23, EBM members had the pleasure of attending a special workshop with Renaud Pourpre (The Lonely Pipette), who joined us all the way from Oxford.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Cellular differentiation in brain tissue-mimicking matrices: C04 aims at using cell types with the same embryonic origin but distinct differentiation than brain cells, melanocytes and melanoma cells, to analyze the role of mechanics on cellular differentiation and de-differentiation.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

On Nov 25, EBM PhD students got a peek into MRE research! Guillaume Flé talked about how MRI sampling techniques impact MRE accuracy and speed. Michael Fedders shared insights on phase unwrapping for MRE data. A great seminar full of discussion and inspiration!

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

At the EBM Harmonization Workshop on Dec 17, participants explored how to read histological sections of the human CNS.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

✨Happy New Year from the EBM community! ✨ Thank you to all our members and partners for a year of inspiring research, collaboration, and exchange. We wish you a successful, healthy, and innovative year ahead and look forward to continuing our work together in 2026.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

In project C02, cortical neurons are infected with a virus expressing green fluorescent protein and grown on hydrogels with different mechanical properties. The morphology of dendritic spines is then quantified to monitor the effect of mechanics on neuronal plasticity.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Joint lab shadowing at FAU’s Institute of Continuum Mechanics and Biomechanics 🔬 Michael Tranchina (A04), Oskar Neumann (B01), and Majahonkhe Shabangu (UCT) worked together on mechanical testing of mature brain organoids and first mapping trials on spheroids. Great insights for CRC 1540!

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

EBM Virtual Brain Talk - Prof. Ingmar Blümcke 📅 08.12.2025 ⏰ 4:00 PM (CEST) 💻 Online via Zoom 📩 To receive the Zoom link, contact EBM coordinator Andrea Dakkouri-Baldauf at andrea.dakkouri@fau.de.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

🧠 EBM spokesperson Prof. Paul Steinmann represented CRC 1540 EBM at MECOM 2025 in Buenos Aires (11-14 November), where he delivered a main lecture titled: "From the Cellular via the Tissue to the Organ Level. A Journey Exploring Brain Mechanics".

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

🧠 The EBM community gathered in Muggendorf for our 2025 Annual Retreat - two days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and new ideas. Researchers and PIs shared progress, explored future directions, and strengthened connections across projects.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

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

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

🧠 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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

☀️ 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! 🍻

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

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

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

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

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

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

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

🧠 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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

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.

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Exploring Brain Mechanics @ebmresearch.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

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.

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