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.

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.

🧠🌎 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

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

🎤✨ 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.

🧬🧠 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.

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…

crc1540-ebm.research.fau.eu

🎶🧠 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.

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.

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.

🌎🔬 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!

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.

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.

🧠 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.

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.

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.

🧠 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."

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

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.

🧠🎶 "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.

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

✨ 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.

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.

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!

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

✨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.

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.

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!

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.

🧠 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".

🧠 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.