Stefan Linder

Prof. Stefan Linder is a Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene at the University of Hamburg’s Faculty of Medicine. He leads the research group focusing on cellular mechanisms of pathogen interaction and cancer biology. His work spans medical microbiology, molecular cytology, and cell biology, with a focus on podosome biology, matrix metalloproteinases, and bacterial phagocytosis.

• Affiliations: Head of Research Group at the Center for Diagnostics, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University of Hamburg.
• Editorial Roles: Editor of European Journal of Cell Biology (2010-2021), Associate Editor of Frontiers in Immunology/Microbiology (since 2022), and Board member of multiple journals.

Research interests include:

• Podosomes and invadopodia in cell invasion and phagocytosis.
• Role of MT1-MMP in cancer metastasis and macrophage activity.
• Bacterial pathogenesis, particularly Borrelia burgdorferi and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
• Protein trafficking and endosomal pathways in immune responses.

Key achievements include:

• Co-Founder of The Invadosome Consortium.
• Scientific Coordinator of the T3Net Training Network.
• Recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society (2024).

His publications span over two decades, with recent work focusing on tumor co-invasion mechanisms, macrophage polarization, and advanced microscopy techniques.