Klaudia Brix

Prof. Klaudia Brix is a Professor of Cell Biology at the School of Science, Constructor University Bremen gGmbH. She leads the Brix-group, focusing on proteolysis in the central nervous system (CNS), epithelial tissues, and thyroid physiology. Her research integrates cell biology, molecular biology, and quantitative imaging techniques to study proteases like cathepsins and kallikreins in health and disease. She has held academic roles since 1985, including leadership in the DFG-funded SPP 1629 'THYROID TRANS ACT' and the EU-COST action ProteoCure.

Education: Dr. rer. nat. (1987, University of Bonn), Habilitation in Cell Biology (1997). Career highlights include Full Professorships at Constructor University (2006–present) and Associate/Assistant roles at the University of Bonn. She has supervised 15 PhD students and mentored numerous postgraduates globally.

Research interests span protease trafficking, G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, and the role of proteases in aging, wound healing, and cancer. Recent work includes SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein activation by cathepsins in epithelial cells and neurons. She employs computational methods for quantitative image analysis.

Publications emphasize protease-driven mechanisms in thyroid dysfunction, cancer biology, and viral pathogenesis. Awards include 'Teacher of the Year' (2018, 2021) and the Mentor Recognition Award (2005). Her lab collaborates internationally, contributing to conferences like the Gordon Research Conferences and editorial boards of *European Journal of Cell Biology*.

Funded projects include DFG grants, EU-COST ProteoCure, and a focus on thyroid and viral protease interactions. Current efforts include investigating neuronal cilia as viral entry sites (HAORI Stiftung grant, 2020–2024).