Research Foci
- Development, morphogenesis and maintenance of lymphatic vessels
- Interplay of hypoxia, the vascular systems and leukocytes in different physiological and pathological settings and its relevance for organ function
CV
Academic Education
- Habilitation: Venia Legendi in Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marburg
- Promotion: Dr. rer. nat. Institute of Molecular Pathology (I.M.P.) Vienna and University of Tübingen
- Diploma in Biochemistry and Physiological Chemistry
- Study of Biochemistry and Physiological Chemistry, University of Tübingen
Positions
- Professor for Intravital Molecular Imaging and Director of the European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI)
- Reseach group leader (W2), Max Planck Institute, Münster
- Head of Transgenic Services, Max Planck Institute, Münster
- Group leader, Dept. Vasc. Cell Biol., Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster
- Principal Investigator, Dept. Mol. Cell Biol., Max Planck Institute for Physiological and Clinical Research, Bad Nauheim
- Postdoctoral fellow, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
- Postdoctoral fellow, Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, DFG fellowship
External Functions
- Hon. treasurer of the European Vascular Biology Organization (EBVO)
- Member of the editorial board: Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Member of the editorial board: Cell News (DGZ)
- Apl. Professor, University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, Germany
- Secretary of the German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ)
- Member of the Faculty of 1000, division of cell biology
Publications
2025
Kunisch M, Beutler S, Pilger C, Kiefer F, Huser T, Wirth B. Active axial motion compensation in multiphoton-excited fluorescence microscopy. Opt Express 2025;33: 3620-3636. Abstract Lupu I-E, Grainger DE, Kirschnick N, Weischer S, Zhao E, Martinez-Corral I, Schoofs H, Vanhollebeke M, Jones G, Godwin J, Forrow A, Lahmann I, Riley PR, Zobel T, Alitalo K, Makinen T, Kiefer F, Stone OA. Direct specification of lymphatic endothelium from mesenchymal progenitors. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2025;4: 45-63. Abstract 2024
Bauer N, Beckmann D, Reinhardt D, Frost N, Bobe S, Erapaneedi R, Risse B, Kiefer F. Therapy-induced modulation of tumor vasculature and oxygenation in a murine glioblastoma model quantified by deep learning-based feature extraction. Sci Rep 2024;14: 2034. Abstract Bauer N, Kiefer F. Genetically Encoded Reporters to Monitor Hypoxia. Methods Mol Biol 2024;2755: 3-29. Abstract Wen J, Pilger C, Wang W, Erapaneedi R, Xiu H, Fan Y, Hu X, Huser T, Kiefer F, Wei X, Yang Z. Watt-level all polarization-maintaining femtosecond fiber laser source at 1100 nm. Opt. Express 2024;32: 9625. Abstract 2023
Bauer N, Maisuls I, Pereira da Graca A, Reinhardt D, Erapaneedi R, Kirschnick N, Schäfers M, Grashoff C, Landfester K, Vestweber D, Strassert CA, Kiefer F. Genetically encoded dual fluorophore reporters for graded oxygen-sensing in light microscopy. Biosens Bioelectron 2023;221: 114917. Abstract Beckmann D, Kockwelp J, Gromoll J, Kiefer F, Risse B. SAM meets Gaze: Passive Eye Tracking for Prompt-based Instance Segmentation. NeuRIPS. 2023 Workshop on Gaze Meets ML 2023 2022
Bobe S, Beckmann D, Klump DM, Dierkes C, Kirschnick N, Redder E, Bauer N, Schäfers M, Erapaneedi R, Risse B, van de Pavert SA, Kiefer F. Volumetric imaging reveals VEGF-C-dependent formation of hepatic lymph vessels in mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022;10: 949896. Abstract Eliat F, Sohn R, Renner H, Kagermeier T, Volkery S, Brinkmann H, Kirschnick N, Kiefer F, Grabos M, Becker K, Bedzhov I, Schöler HR, Bruder JM. Tissue clearing may alter emission and absorption properties of common fluorophores. Sci Rep 2022;12: 5551. Abstract Peil J, Bock F, Kiefer F, Schmidt R, Heindl LM, Cursiefen C, Schlereth SL. New Therapeutic Approaches for Conjunctival Melanoma-What We Know So Far and Where Therapy Is Potentially Heading: Focus on Lymphatic Vessels and Dendritic Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022;23Abstract Reimche I, Yu H, Ariantari NP, Liu Z, Merkens K, Rotfuß S, Peter K, Jungwirth U, Bauer N, Kiefer F, Neudörfl J-M, Schmalz H-G, Proksch P, Teusch N. Phenanthroindolizidine Alkaloids Isolated from Tylophora ovata as Potent Inhibitors of Inflammation, Spheroid Growth, and Invasion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022;23Abstract Siret C, van Lessen M, Bavais J, Jeong HW, Reddy Samawar SK, Kapupara K, Wang S, Simic M, de Fabritus L, Tchoghandjian A, Fallet M, Huang H, Sarrazin S, Sieweke MH, Stumm R, Sorokin L, Adams RH, Schulte-Merker S, Kiefer F, van de Pavert SA. Deciphering the heterogeneity of the Lyve1(+) perivascular macrophages in the mouse brain. Nat Commun 2022;13: 7366. Abstract 2021
Arasa J, Collado-Diaz V, Kritikos I, Medina-Sanchez JD, Friess MC, Sigmund EC, Schineis P, Hunter MC, Tacconi C, Paterson N, Nagasawa T, Kiefer F, Makinen T, Detmar M, Moser M, Lämmermann T, Halin C. Upregulation of VCAM-1 in lymphatic collectors supports dendritic cell entry and rapid migration to lymph nodes in inflammation. J Exp Med 2021;218Abstract Drees D, Scherzinger A, Hägerling R, Kiefer F, Jiang X. Scalable robust graph and feature extraction for arbitrary vessel networks in large volumetric datasets. BMC Bioinformatics 2021;22: 346. Abstract Kirschnick N, Drees D, Redder E, Erapaneedi R, Pereira da Graca A, Schäfers M, Jiang X, Kiefer F. Rapid methods for the evaluation of fluorescent reporters in tissue clearing and the segmentation of large vascular structures. iScience 2021;24: 102650. Abstract Kong C, Bobe S, Pilger C, Lachetta M, Øie CI, Kirschnick N, Mönkemöller V, Hübner W, Förster C, Schüttpelz M, Kiefer F, Huser T, Schulte Am Esch J. Multiscale and Multimodal Optical Imaging of the Ultrastructure of Human Liver Biopsies. Front Physiol 2021;12: 637136. Abstract Redder E, Kirschnick N, Bobe S, Hägerling R, Hansmeier NR, Kiefer F. Vegfr3-tdTomato, a reporter mouse for microscopic visualization of lymphatic vessel by multiple modalities. PLoS One 2021;16: e0249256. Abstract Sadras T, Martin M, Kume K, Robinson ME, Saravanakumar S, Lenz G, Chen Z, Song JY, Siddiqi T, Oksa L, Knapp AM, Cutler J, Cosgun KN, Klemm L, Ecker V, Winchester J, Ghergus D, Soulas-Sprauel P, Kiefer F, Heisterkamp N, Pandey A, Ngo V, Wang L, Jumaa H, Buchner M, Ruland J, Chan W-C, Meffre E, Martin T, Müschen M. Developmental partitioning of SYK and ZAP70 prevents autoimmunity and cancer. Mol Cell 2021;81: 2094-2111.e9. Abstract 2020
Macchi M, Magalon K, Zimmer C, Peeva E, El Waly B, Brousse B, Jaekel S, Grobe K, Kiefer F, Williams A, Cayre M, Durbec P. Mature oligodendrocytes bordering lesions limit demyelination and favor myelin repair via heparan sulfate production. Elife 2020;9: e51735. Abstract Martens R, Permanyer M, Werth K, Yu K, Braun A, Halle O, Halle S, Patzer GE, Bosnjak B, Kiefer F, Janssen A, Friedrichsen M, Poetzsch J, Kohli K, Lueder Y, Gutierrez Jauregui R, Eckert N, Worbs T, Galla M, Forster R. Efficient homing of T cells via afferent lymphatics requires mechanical arrest and integrin-supported chemokine guidance. Nat Commun 2020;11: 1114. Abstract 2019
Ghaffari A, Hoskin V, Turashvili G, Varma S, Mewburn J, Mullins G, Greer PA, Kiefer F, Day AG, Madarnas Y, SenGupta S, Elliott BE. Intravital imaging reveals systemic ezrin inhibition impedes cancer cell migration and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2019;21: 12. Abstract Hunter MC, Teijeira A, Montecchi R, Russo E, Runge P, Kiefer F, Halin C. Dendritic Cells and T Cells Interact Within Murine Afferent Lymphatic Capillaries. Front. Immunol. 2019;10: 11 pp. Abstract 2018
Bovay E, Sabine A, Prat-Luri B, Kim S, Son K, Willrodt A-H, Olsson C, Halin C, Kiefer F, Betsholtz C, Jeon NL, Luther SA, Petrova TV. Multiple roles of lymphatic vessels in peripheral lymph node development. J Exp Med 2018;215: 2760-2777. Abstract Dierkes C, Scherzinger A, Kiefer F. Three-Dimensional Visualization of the Lymphatic Vasculature. Methods Mol Biol 2018;1846: 1-18. Abstract Frye M, Taddei A, Dierkes C, Martinez-Corral I, Fielden M, Ortsater H, Kazenwadel J, Calado DP, Ostergaard P, Salminen M, He L, Harvey NL, Kiefer F, Makinen T. Matrix stiffness controls lymphatic vessel formation through regulation of a GATA2-dependent transcriptional program. Nat Commun 2018;9: 1511. Abstract Hägerling R, Hoppe E, Dierkes C, Stehling M, Makinen T, Butz S, Vestweber D, Kiefer F. Distinct roles of VE‐cadherin for development and maintenance of specific lymph vessel beds. EMBO J 2018: e98271. Abstract Lopez Tobon A, Suresh M, Jin J, Vitriolo A, Pietralla T, Tedford K, Bossenz M, Mahnken K, Kiefer F, Testa G, Fischer K-D, Puschel AW. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Arhgef7/betaPix promotes axon formation upstream of TC10. Sci Rep 2018;8: 8811. Abstract Orlich M, Kiefer F. A qualitative comparison of ten tissue clearing techniques. Histol Histopathol 2018;33: 181-199. Abstract Seifert R, Kuhlmann MT, Eligehausen S, Kiefer F, Hermann S, Schafers M. Molecular imaging of MMP activity discriminates unstable from stable plaque phenotypes in shear-stress induced murine atherosclerosis. PLoS One 2018;13: e0204305. Abstract 2017
Hägerling R, Drees D, Scherzinger A, Dierkes C, Martin-Almedina S, Butz S, Gordon K, Schäfers M, Hinrichs K, Ostergaard P, Vestweber D, Goerge T, Mansour S, Jiang X, Mortimer PS, Kiefer F. VIPAR, a quantitative approach to 3D histopathology applied to lymphatic malformations. JCI Insight 2017;2: e93424. Abstract Karpanen T, Padberg Y, van de Pavert SA, Dierkes C, Morooka N, Peterson-Maduro J, van de Hoek G, Adrian M, Mochizuki N, Sekiguchi K, Kiefer F, Schulte D, Schulte-Merker S. An Evolutionarily Conserved Role for Polydom/Svep1 During Lymphatic Vessel Formation. Circ Res 2017;120: 1263-1275. Abstract Seifert R, Scherzinger A, Kiefer F, Hermann S, Jiang X, Schafers MA. Statistical Permutation-based Artery Mapping (SPAM): a novel approach to evaluate imaging signals in the vessel wall. BMC Med Imaging 2017;17: 36. Abstract Weis V, Konigsberger S, Amler S, Wienands J, Kiefer F. Unperturbed Immune Function despite Mutation of C-Terminal Tyrosines in Syk Previously Implicated in Signaling and Activity Regulation. Mol Cell Biol 2017;37Abstract 2016
Erapaneedi R, Belousov VV, Schäfers M, Kiefer F. A novel family of fluorescent hypoxia sensors reveal strong heterogeneity in tumor hypoxia at the cellular level. Embo J 2016;35: 102-113. Abstract Scherzinger A, Kleene F, Dierkes C, Kiefer F, Hinrichs K, Jiang X. Automated Segmentation of Immunostained Cell Nuclei in 3D Ultramicroscopy Images. In: Pattern Recognition - 38th German Conference, GCPR 2016, Hannover, Germany, Sept. 12-15, 2016;Springer: 105-116. Abstract 2015
Bălan M, Kiefer F. A novel model for ectopic, chronic, intravital multiphoton imaging of bone marrow vasculature and architecture in split femurs. IntraVital 2015;4: e1066949. Abstract Helker CSM, Schuermann A, Pollmann C, Chng SC, Kiefer F, Reversade B, Herzog W. The hormonal peptide Elabela guides angioblasts to the midline during vasculogenesis. Elife 2015;4: e06726. Abstract 2014
Born G, Breuer D, Wang S, Rohlmann A, Coulon P, Vakili P, Reissner C, Kiefer F, Heine M, Pape H-C, Missler M. Modulation of synaptic function through the alpha-neurexin-specific ligand neurexophilin-1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014;111: E1274-83. Abstract D'Amico G, Korhonen EA, Anisimov A, Zarkada G, Holopainen T, Hägerling R, Kiefer F, Eklund L, Sormunen R, Elamaa H, Brekken RA, Adams RH, Koh GY, Saharinen P, Alitalo K. Tie1 deletion inhibits tumor growth and improves angiopoietin antagonist therapy. J Clin Invest 2014;124: 824-834. Abstract Dartsch N, Schulte D, Hägerling R, Kiefer F, Vestweber D. Fusing VE-Cadherin to alpha-Catenin Impairs Fetal Liver Hematopoiesis and Lymph but Not Blood Vessel Formation. Mol Cell Biol 2014;34: 1634-1648. Abstract Pollmann C, Hägerling R, Kiefer F. Visualization of lymphatic vessel development, growth, and function. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 2014;214: 167-186. Abstract 2013
Hägerling R, Pollmann C, Andreas M, Schmidt C, Nurmi H, Adams RH, Alitalo K, Andresen V, Schulte-Merker S, Kiefer F. A novel multistep mechanism for initial lymphangiogenesis in mouse embryos based on ultramicroscopy. EMBO J 2013;32: 629-644. Abstract Pollmann C, Hägerling R, Andreas M, Kiefer F. Ultramikroskopische Darstellung von Lymphgefäßen während der Fötalentwicklung und im Erwachsenenstadium der Maus. LymphForsch 2013;17: 6-12. Wang L, Benedito R, Bixel MG, Zeuschner D, Stehling M, Savendahl L, Haigh JJ, Snippert H, Clevers H, Breier G, Kiefer F, Adams RH. Identification of a clonally expanding haematopoietic compartment in bone marrow. EMBO J 2013;32: 219-230. Abstract 2012
Königsberger S, Prodöhl J, Stegner D, Weis V, Andreas M, Stehling M, Schumacher T, Böhmer R, Thielmann I, van Eeuwijk JMM, Nieswandt B, Kiefer F. Altered BCR signalling quality predisposes to autoimmune disease and a pre-diabetic state. EMBO J 2012;31: 3363-3374. Abstract Sabine A, Agalarov Y, Maby-El Hajjami H, Jaquet M, Hägerling R, Pollmann C,Bebber D, Pfenniger A, Miura N, Dormond O, Calmes JM, Adams RH, Mäkinen T, Kiefer F, Kwak BR, Petrova TV. Mechanotransduction, PROX1, and FOXC2 Cooperate to Control Connexin37 and Calcineurin during Lymphatic-Valve Formation. Dev Cell 2012: 430-45. Abstract 2011
Hägerling R, Pollmann C, Kremer L, Andresen V, Kiefer F. Intravital two-photon microscopy of lymphatic vessel development and function using a transgenic Prox1 promoter-directed mOrange2 reporter mouse. Biochem Soc Trans 2011;39: 1674-1681. Abstract Kiefer F, Siekmann AF. The role of chemokines and their receptors in angiogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2011;68: 2811-2830. Abstract Neuhaus B, Buhren S, Bock B, Alves F, Vogel WF, Kiefer F. Migration inhibition of mammary epithelial cells by Syk is blocked in the presence of DDR1 receptors. Cell Mol Life Sci 2011;68: 3757-70. Abstract Schulte D, Kuppers V, Dartsch N, Broermann A, Li H, Zarbock A, Kamenyeva O, Kiefer F, Khandoga A, Massberg S, Vestweber D. Stabilizing the VE-cadherin-catenin complex blocks leukocyte extravasation and vascular permeability. EMBO J 2011: 4157-70. Abstract 2010
Böhmer R, Neuhaus B, Bühren S, Zhang D, Stehling M, Böck B, Kiefer F. Regulation of developmental lymphangiogenesis by Syk(+) leukocytes. Dev Cell 2010;18: 437-449. Abstract Patzak IM, Königsberger S, Suzuki A, Mak TW, Kiefer F. HPK1 competes with ADAP for SLP-76 binding and via Rap1 negatively affects T-cell adhesion. Eur J Immunol 2010;40: 3220-3225. Abstract 2009
Winderlich M, Keller L, Cagna G, Broermann A, Kamenyeva O, Kiefer F, Deutsch U, Nottebaum AF, Vestweber D. VE-PTP controls blood vessel development by balancing Tie-2 activity. J Cell Biol 2009;185: 657-671. Abstract 2007
Arnold R, Frey CR, Muller W, Brenner D, Krammer PH, Kiefer F. Sustained JNK signaling by proteolytically processed HPK1 mediates IL-3 independent survival during monocytic differentiation. Cell Death Differ 2007;14: 568-575. Abstract 2005
Arnold R, Patzak IM, Neuhaus B, Vancauwenbergh S, Veillette A, Van Lint J, Kiefer F. Activation of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 involves relocation, autophosphorylation, and transphosphorylation by protein kinase D1. Mol Cell Biol 2005;25: 2364-2383. Abstract
