Mike O. Karl

Prof. Dr. Mike O. Karl serves as a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Dresden, where he directs research on retinal degeneration and regeneration mechanisms to combat vision loss.

His primary research focuses on:

• Developing human stem cell-based model systems for retinal diseases
• Deciphering mechanisms linking neurodegeneration and regenerative failure
• Identifying therapeutic targets for retinal dystrophies and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Karl's laboratory pioneers organoid models derived from murine and human pluripotent stem cells to replicate retinal development, disease progression, and regenerative processes. The team investigates critical pathological features including neuroinflammation, glial scarring, and tissue remodeling that contribute to irreversible vision loss.

Current work emphasizes validating regeneration-limiting mechanisms through ex vivo retina assays and developing disease models for therapeutic screening in cell replacement and gene therapy applications.