Prof. Dr. Hans-Günther Machens

Academic Career and Research Areas

The clinical and experimental interests of Professor Machens (b. 1962) are in translational research in the fields of tissue engineering and tissue regeneration. His research focuses primarily on new techniques for matrix based angiogenesis induction in vitro and in vivo. Currently he is working on a GMP process for cell based gene transfer from BFGF and VEGF by means of electroporation and on the development of systemically and locally applied rh-erythropoietin applications for local tissue regeneration. His main clinical interest is reconstructive surgery and innovative applications for wound treatment.

After studying medicine in Hanover, Göttingen, Heidelberg and Chicago, he completed his PhD in 1988 in Heidelberg. He acquired his German medical board certification in surgery in 1995 and in plastic surgery in 1999. During this time Professor Machens also earned his postdoctoral teaching qualification (habilitation) while conducting research into techniques for angiogenesis induction via cell based gene transfer (1999). After holding senior physician positions in Hanover and Lübeck, in 2007 he was appointed Chair of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery at TUM . He is one of the founders of the “Tissue Engineering” competence centre in Lübeck, director of various German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) projects focusing on tissue regeneration and is responsible for setting up a CTA team (composite tissue allotransplantation) to perform extremity transplants at TUM’s Klinikum rechts der Isar.

Awards

  • Heinz Maier Leibnitz Medal of the TUM (2008)    
  • Brettschneider Prize (2004)
  • Science Award of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (2000)
  • Science Award of the DAH (German Association for Hand Surgery) (1997)

Bader A, Machens HG:  “Recombinant human erythropoietin plays a pivotal role as a topical stem cell activator to reverse effects of damage to the skin in aging and trauma”. Rejuvenation Res. 2010; 13: 499-500.

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Egaña JT, Fierro FA, Krüger S, Bornhäuser M, Huss R, Lavandero S, Machens HG: “Use of human mesenchymal cells to improve vascularization in a mouse model for scaffold-based dermal regeneration”. Tissue Eng Part A. 2009; 15: 1191-1200.

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Machens HG, Pabst A, Dreyer M, Gliemroth J, Görg S, Bahlmann L, Klaus S, Kaun M, Krüger S, Mailänder P: “C3a levels and occurrence of subdermal vascular thrombosis are age-related in deep second-degree burn wounds”. Surgery. 2006; 139: 550-555.

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Machens HG, Morgan J, Berthiaume F, Siemers F, Krapohl BD, Berger A, Mailänder P: “PDGF-AA mediated functional angiogenesis in the rat epigastric island flap after genetic modification of fibroblasts is ischemia – dependent”. Surgery. 2002; 131: 393-400.

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Machens HG, Morgan JR, Sachse C, Berger A, Mailänder P: „Gentherapeutische Möglichkeiten in der Plastischen Chirurgie“. Chirurg. 2000; 70: 176-181.

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