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Oliver Friedrich’s research is internationally renowned for developing new biotechnology and biomedical engineering solutions for life sciences with an emphasis on advanced biomechatronics, tissue engineering, optical engineering and advanced microscopy techniques (e.g. Second Harmonic Generation Imaging, 2-photon-endomiscroscopy). Such automated, highly versatile actuator- and biosensor-based technologies are then applied to studies of mechanobiology (e.g. the 2016 developed IsoStretcher), skeletal muscle biomechanics (e.g. the 2017 developed MyoRobot) or the combined multiphoton SHG and biomechanics (e.g. the 2018 developed MechaMorph) or two-photon endoscopy for label-free morphometry in vivo (2019 published ADVENDO Life system) or under high hydrostatic pressure conditions to simulate marine environments (2019 published PiezoGRIN). Such bioengineered systems were highly published in the Biosensor community (e.g. Biosens Bioelectron, Advanced Science or Light: Science & Applications) and are currently translated to commercialization through industry-related R&D funding schemes. Apart from bioengineering, OF has strong interest in cellular Ca2+ dynamics and signalling, in particular related to mechanotransduction, extracellular matrix-cellular interfaces and matrix remodelling in disease and aging. He and his team developed new standards for in situ ultrastructure morphometry in living cells and tissues. He also works on clarifying the role of MS channels in (cardio-)myopathies. He is well connected within Australian academia and a regular scientific visitor and collaborator in the Sydney (e.g. VCCRI, UNSW, USyd, UoW, UWS) and Brisbane (QUT) areas. For details, visit: www.mbt.tf.fau.de.
Research Focus
- Advanced Biophotonics: Multiphoton Imaging and Label-free Tissue Morphometry in Health, Disease and Tissue Engineering
- Optical Engineering
- Opto-Biomechatronics on soft Tissues (e.g. Muscle), hard Tissues (e.g. Bone)
- High Pressure Biotechnology
- Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication
- Biomedical Systems Engineering
Current Positions
Since 2010 Professor (W3) and Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Head of Institute, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Technical Faculty, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Erlangen, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
Since 04/2020 Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Since 10/2017 Adjunct Professor, University of New South Wales (UNSW), School of Medical Sciences (SOMS), Sydney, Australia
Since 2012: Honorary Faculty Member Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Previous Positions
2008 – 2010 Associate Professor (außerplanmäßiger Professor) at the University of Heidelberg, Germany
2008 – 2009 International Linkage Senior Researcher: Senior Fellow of the Australian Research Council (ARC) at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2006 – 2008 Lecturer (Privatdozent, C1), Institute of Physiology & Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg
2003 – 2006 Research Officer (C1), Institute of Physiology & Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg
2003 Post-Doc, Dept. of Parasitology, University of Heidelberg
2001 – 2003 Post-Doc, Institute of Physiology & Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg
2000 – 2001 Resident (Arzt im Praktikum), Dept. of Neurology, University Hospitals Heidelberg
Education & Academic Qualification
02/2006 Venia legendi (Habilitation) in Physiology & Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany
09/2004 Medical Consultant in Physiology (‘Facharzt’), Chamber of Physicians Baden-Württemberg
06/2002 Dr. rer. nat. (Physical Chemistry/Molecular Biotechnology), Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Sciences (summa cum laude)
08/2001 License to practice Medicine (‘Approbation’), Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Germany
05/2000 Dr. med. (Physiology), University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty (summa cum laude)
04/2000 Physics Diploma (1,3), Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Germany
1993 – 2000 Studies of Physics, University of Heidelberg, Germany
10/1997 Third State exam Medicine
1991 – 1997 Studies of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany
Fellowships & Awards
03-08/2022 DAAD short-term lecturer scholarship; sabbatical at University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia
2021 senetics healthcare group Innovation Award ‘most innovative product or patent in the healthcare sector’
2018 Position offered as Professor for Molecular Muscle Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (declined)
02-10/2017 DAAD short-term lecturer scholarship; sabbatical at UNSW, Sydney, Australia
2015 – 2018 Adjunct Professor at the School of Medical Sciences, College of Science, Engineering & Health, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Melbourne, Australia
2014 – 2015 Adjunct Affiliate (Associate Professor) of the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2009 – 2014 Adjunct Affiliate (Senior Lecturer) of the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2006 Research award from the German Sepsis Society (DSG)