Mike O. Karl

Prof. Mike O. Karl leads the MOKALAB at TU Dresden's Center for Regenerative Therapies (CRTD) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). He holds a professorship in Retinal Stem Cell Research and Neurogenesis at the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine. His research deciphers mechanisms of retinal degeneration and develops regenerative strategies using stem cell organoids and mouse models.

Research interests focus on:

• Overcoming regenerative barriers in mammalian retinas
• Müller glia reprogramming for neuronal regeneration
• Human organoid modeling of AMD and inherited dystrophies
• Neuroprotective mechanisms in degenerative environments

Technical expertise includes:

• Retina organoid development from hiPSCs
• Advanced imaging and electrophysiology
• Genetic/toxin-induced degeneration models

Honors include:

• EYEnovative Award (Novartis, 2014 & 2012)
• ARVO Innovative Ophthalmology Research Award (2009)
• Linderström-Lang Thesis Award (2006)

The lab currently advises 8+ students and postdocs. Major projects investigate glia-vascular interactions in degeneration and organoid-based therapy development.