Current position

since 16. December 2018
Head of the Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology, project and working group leader, module and lecturer at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg Department for Human Medicine, Clinic for Ophthalmology, Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalomology

Academic training and scientific career

since 16 December 2018
Head of the Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology, project and working group leader, module and lecturer, Oldenburg Eye Clinic, Department for Human Medicine, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

2015 - 2018
Head of the Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Department of Ophthalmology, Laboratory for Experimental Ophthalmology

2011 - 2014
Research Associate at the Institute for Experimental Ophthalmology, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Germany

2008 - 2011

Research Associate at the Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Research Group Childhood Brain Tumours, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster

2005 - 2008

Research assistant (PhD student) at the Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Research Group Glioblastoma Migration, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Topic of the doctorate: "Molecular mechanisms of tumour cell migration"
Evaluation: magna cum laude

2000 - 2005
Studied Biology and Mathematics at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster; Diplom thesis at the Institute of Neuropathology,
Topic of the Diplom thesis: "Investigations into the function of Slit-2 and Robo-1 in glioblastomas"

1997 - 2000

Studied human medicine at the Justus Liebig University Giessen

Memberships in scientific societies

• German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
• Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS)

2022

[39] I. Veernala, J. Jaffet, J. Fried, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, S. Basu, G.K. Vemuganti, V. Singh, Lacrimal gland regeneration: The unmet challenges and promise for dry eye therapy, Ocul Surf 25 (2022) 129-141.

2021

[38] S. Mertsch, I. Neumann, C. Rose, M. Schargus, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, The effect of Rho Kinase inhibition on corneal nerve regeneration in vitro and in vivo, Ocul Surf 22 (2021) 213-223. (awarded with the Hermine Heusler-Edenhuizen "Best Paper" Award 2022 from the University Oldenburg and the Freunde und Förderer der Universitätsmedizin Nordwest e.V.)

[37] M. Hasenzahl, M. Müsken, S. Mertsch, S.Schrader, S. Reichl, Cell sheet technology: Influence of culture conditions on in vitro-cultivated corneal stromal tissue for regenerative therapies of the ocular surface. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2021 Feb 3. doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.34808

2020

[36] S. Mertsch, M. Hasenzahl, S. Reichl, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, Decellularised human corneal stromal cell sheet as a novel matrix for ocular surface reconstruction, J Tissue Eng Regen Med 14(9) (2020) 1318-1332.

[35] J. Witt, J. Dietrich, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, K. Spaniol, G. Geerling, Decellularized porcine conjunctiva as an alternative substrate for tissue-engineered epithelialized conjunctiva, Ocul Surf 18(4) (2020) 901-911.

[34] K. Ou, D.A. Copland, S. Theodoropoulou, S. Mertsch, Y. Li, J. Liu, S. Schrader, L. Liu, A.D. Dick, Treatment of diabetic retinopathy through neuropeptide Y-mediated enhancement of neurovascular microenvironment, J Cell Mol Med 24(7) (2020) 3958-3970.

[33] N. Feltgen, K.U. Bartz-Schmidt, N. Feltgen, F. Grehn, J. Lauermann, P. Maier, R. Merte, S. Pitz, N. Plange, I. Schmack, M. Altmann, G. Auffarth, M. Bohm, V. Brucher, L. Choritz, C. Deuter, N. Feltgen, M. Fuest, C. Girbhardt, A. Hassenstein, C. Holtmann, J. Kampmeier, K. Lenz, K. Loffler, B. Lorenz, P. Maier, C. Mardin, S. Mertsch, P. Moller, A. Mohi, V. Muller, M. Nentwich, A. Neugebauer, A. Pielen, U. Pleyer, V. Prokosch, I. Schmack, S. Schulze, B. Seitz, A. Stahl, N. Terai, F. Treumer, R. Wienrich, H. Ilhelm, D.-A. Lehre, G.O. Lehrbe, Ophthalmological student teaching-results of a survey at German universities, Ophthalmologe 117(3) (2020) 253-258.

2019

[32] J. Witt, M. Borrelli, S. Mertsch, G. Geerling, K. Spaniol, S. Schrader, Evaluation of Plastic-Compressed Collagen for Conjunctival Repair in a Rabbit Model, Tissue Eng Part A 25(15-16) (2019) 1084-1095.

[31] K. Ou, S. Mertsch, S. Theodoropoulou, J. Wu, J. Liu, D.A. Copland, L.M. Scott, A.D. Dick, S. Schrader, L. Liu, Muller Cells Stabilise Microvasculature through Hypoxic Preconditioning, Cell Physiol Biochem 52(4) (2019) 668-680.

[30] K. Ou, S. Mertsch, S. Theodoropoulou, J. Wu, J. Liu, D.A. Copland, S. Schrader, L. Liu, A.D. Dick, Restoring retinal neurovascular health via substance P, Exp Cell Res 380(2) (2019) 115-123.

[29] S. Mertsch, J. Alder, H.S. Dua, G. Geerling, [Pathogenesis and epidemiology of neurotrophic keratopathy], Ophthalmologe 116(2) (2019) 109-119.

[28] J. Dietrich, M. Roth, S. Konig, G. Geerling, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, Analysis of lacrimal gland derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome and its impact on epithelial cell survival, Stem Cell Res 38 (2019) 101477.

[27] J. Dietrich, L. Ott, M. Roth, J. Witt, G. Geerling, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, MSC Transplantation Improves Lacrimal Gland Regeneration after Surgically Induced Dry Eye Disease in Mice, Sci Rep 9(1) (2019) 18299.

[26] J. Alder, S. Mertsch, J. Menzel-Severing, G. Geerling, [Current and experimental treatment approaches for neurotrophic keratopathy], Ophthalmologe 116(2) (2019) 127-137.

2018

[25] J. Witt, S. Mertsch, M. Borrelli, J. Dietrich, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, K. Spaniol, Decellularised conjunctiva for ocular surface reconstruction, Acta Biomater 67 (2018) 259-269.

[24] K. Spaniol, J. Witt, S. Mertsch, M. Borrelli, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, Generation and characterisation of decellularised human corneal limbus, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 256(3) (2018) 547-557.

[23] S. Mertsch, K. Schlicht, H. Melkonyan, S. Schlatt, S. Thanos, snRPN controls the ability of neurons to regenerate axons, Restor Neurol Neurosci 36(1) (2018) 31-43.

[22] J. Dietrich, C. Schlegel, M. Roth, J. Witt, G. Geerling, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, Comparative analysis on the dynamic of lacrimal gland damage and regeneration after Interleukin-1alpha or duct ligation induced dry eye disease in mice, Exp Eye Res 172 (2018) 66-77.

2017

[21] S. Mertsch, S. Thanos, Analysis of Histone Deacetylase-Dependent Effects on Cell Migration Using the Stripe Assay, Methods Mol Biol 1510 (2017) 61-75.

[20] S. Mertsch, O.H. Kramer, The interplay between histone deacetylases and rho kinases is important for cancer and neurodegeneration, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 37 (2017) 29-45.

[19] I. Massie, K. Spaniol, A. Barbian, G. Poschmann, K. Stuhler, G. Geerling, M. Metzger, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, Evaluation of Decellularised Porcine Jejunum as a Matrix for Lacrimal Gland Reconstruction In Vitro for Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58(12) (2017) 5564-5574.

2016

[18] I. Massie, J. Dietrich, M. Roth, G. Geerling, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, Development of Causative Treatment Strategies for Lacrimal Gland Insufficiency by Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy. Part 2: Reconstruction of Lacrimal Gland Tissue: What Has Been Achieved So Far and What Are the Remaining Challenges?, Curr Eye Res 41(10) (2016) 1255-1265.

[17] J. Dietrich, I. Massie, M. Roth, G. Geerling, S. Mertsch, S. Schrader, Development of Causative Treatment Strategies for Lacrimal Gland Insufficiency by Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy. Part 1: Regeneration of Lacrimal Gland Tissue: Can We Stimulate Lacrimal Gland Renewal In Vivo?, Curr Eye Res 41(9) (2016) 1131-42.

2015

[16] K. Spaniol, M. Metzger, M. Roth, B. Greve, S. Mertsch, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, Engineering of a Secretory Active Three-Dimensional Lacrimal Gland Construct on the Basis of Decellularised Lacrimal Gland Tissue, Tissue Eng Part A 21(19-20) (2015) 2605-17.

[15] M. Roth, K. Spaniol, C. Kordes, S. Schwarz, S. Mertsch, D. Haussinger, N. Rotter, G. Geerling, S. Schrader, The Influence of Oxygen on the Proliferative Capacity and Differentiation Potential of Lacrimal Gland-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56(8) (2015) 4741-52.

[14] V. Prokosch-Willing, M. Meyer zu Hoerste, S. Mertsch, T. Stupp, S. Thanos, Postnatal visual deprivation in rats regulates several retinal genes and proteins, including differentiation-associated fibroblast growth factor-2, Dev Neurosci 37(1) (2015) 14-28.

2014 - 2008

[13] S. Mertsch, S. Thanos, Opposing signalling of ROCK1 and ROCK2 determines the switching of substrate specificity and the mode of migration of glioblastoma cells, Mol Neurobiol 49(2) (2014) 900-15.

[12] S. Mertsch, P. Oellers, M. Wendling, W. Stracke, S. Thanos, Dissecting the inter-substrate navigation of migrating glioblastoma cells with the stripe assay reveals a causative role of ROCK, Mol Neurobiol 48(1) (2013) 169-79.

[11] M.R. Bohm, S. Mertsch, S. Konig, T. Spieker, S. Thanos, Macula-less rat and macula-bearing monkey retinas exhibit common lifelong proteomic changes, Neurobiol Aging 34(11) (2013) 2659-75.

[10] M. Krzyzankova, S. Mertsch, B. Koos, A. Jeibmann, A. Kruse, U. Kordes, M.C. Fruhwald, J.E. Wolff, W. Paulus, M. Hasselblatt, Loss of TP53 expression in immortalised choroid plexus epithelial cells results in increased resistance to anticancer agents, J Neurooncol 109(3) (2012) 449-55.

[9] B. Koos, S. Bender, H. Witt, S. Mertsch, J. Felsberg, R. Beschorner, A. Korshunov, B. Riesmeier, S. Pfister, W. Paulus, M. Hasselblatt, The transcription factor evi-1 is overexpressed, promotes proliferation, and is prognostically unfavourable in infratentorial ependymomas, Clin Cancer Res 17(11) (2011) 3631-7.

[8] B. Koos, A. Jeibmann, H. Lunenburger, S. Mertsch, N.N. Nupponen, A. Roselli, I. Leuschner, W. Paulus, M.C. Fruhwald, M. Hasselblatt, The tyrosine kinase c-Abl promotes proliferation and is expressed in atypical teratoid and malignant rhabdoid tumours, Cancer-Am Cancer Soc 116(21) (2010) 5075-81.

[7] M. Tomm, A. Koch, S. Mertsch, B. Wrede, A. Jeibmann, J. Wolff, W. Paulus, M. Hasselblatt, Role of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 and Wnt/wingless signalling in choroid plexus tumors, Pediatr Blood Cancer 53(6) (2009) 1152-5.

[6] S. Mertsch, L.J. Schurgers, K. Weber, W. Paulus, V. Senner, Matrix gla protein (MGP): an overexpressed and migration-promoting mesenchymal component in glioblastoma, Bmc Cancer 9 (2009) 302.

[5] S. Mertsch, M. Becker, A. Lichota, W. Paulus, V. Senner, Vesicle amine transport protein-1 (VAT-1) is upregulated in glioblastomas and promotes migration, Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 35(4) (2009) 342-52.

[4] B. Koos, J. Paulsson, M. Jarvius, B.C. Sanchez, B. Wrede, S. Mertsch, A. Jeibmann, A. Kruse, O. Peters, J.E. Wolff, H.J. Galla, O. Soderberg, W. Paulus, A. Ostman, M. Hasselblatt, Platelet-derived growth factor receptor expression and activation in choroid plexus tumours, Am J Pathol 175(4) (2009) 1631-7.

[3] M. Hasselblatt*, S. Mertsch*, B. Koos, B. Riesmeier, H. Stegemann, A. Jeibmann, M. Tomm, N. Schmitz, B. Wrede, J.E. Wolff, W. Zheng, W. Paulus, TWIST-1 is overexpressed in neoplastic choroid plexus epithelial cells and promotes proliferation and invasion, Cancer Res 69(6) (2009) 2219-23. *contributed equally

[2] V. Senner, S. Ratzinger, S. Mertsch, S. Grassel, W. Paulus, Collagen XVI expression is upregulated in glioblastomas and promotes tumour cell adhesion, Febs Lett 582(23-24) (2008) 3293-300.

[1] S. Mertsch, N. Schmitz, A. Jeibmann, J.G. Geng, W. Paulus, V. Senner, Slit2 involvement in glioma cell migration is mediated by Robo1 receptor, J Neurooncol 87(1) (2008) 1-7.