— Nicola M. Tomas, MD
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Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and the most common cause of a nephrotic syndrome in adults. The discoveries of phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) as autoantigens in patients with MN have revolutionized both the diagnosis and monitoring of affected patients and the pathophysiologic understanding of this disease. The group of Dr. Nicola M. Tomas was majorly involved in the identification of THSD7A as an antigen in patients with MN. The group now focuses on identification of the pathogenic signaling programs in MN and aims to develop novel, antigen-specific treatments.
III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) Martinistr. 52
20246 Hamburg, Germany
since 2023 | Managing attending, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf |
since 2021
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Attending Physician, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf |
since 2019
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Junior group leader of the Emmy Noether Research Group “Molecular Mechanisms of Membranous Nephropathy” |
since 2016
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Principal Investigator CRC 1192 Project B2 |
2005 – 2011
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Study of Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany (final exam: sehr gut) |
2023 | Habilitation |
2013 – 2014
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France; Prof. Dr. Gérard Lambeau |
2008 – 2011
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M.D. thesis, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Oncology, University of Witten/Herdecke; doctoral adviser: Prof. Dr. Dr. Kurt S. Zänker (summa cum laude) |
Clinical postgraduate education:
2020
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Medical Specialist in Internal Medicine and Nephrology |
2012 – 2021
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Assistant Physician, III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Prof. Dr. Tobias B. Huber |
Scientific postgraduate education:
2015 – 2018
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Clinician Scientist Program, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf |
2013 – 2015
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Gerok Position at the Clinical Research Unit 228 (KFO 228) “Immunopathogenesis and Therapy of Glomerulonephritis” |
2025 |
Wilhelm Kriz Early/Mid Career Research Achievement Award of the International Society of Glomerular Disease
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2024 | Wissenschaftlicher Ehrenpreis of the German Society of Nephrology |
2023 | Hans-U.-Zollinger Prize of the German Society of Nephrology |
2017
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Dr. Martini-Prize for the discovery that anti-THSD7A antibodies cause membranous nephropathy |
1. | Hengel FE, Dehde S, Kretz O, Engesser J, Zimmermann T, Huber TB, Tomas NM. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jan 16;135(5):e186769. |
2. | Hengel FE, Dehde S, Lassé M, Zahner G, Seifert L, Schnarre A, Kretz O, Demir F, Pinnschmidt HO, Grahammer F, Lucas R, Mehner LM, Zimmermann T, Billing AM, Oh J, Mitrotti A, Pontrelli P, Debiec H, Dossier C, Colucci M, Emma F, Smoyer WE, Weins A, Schaefer F, Alachkar N, Diemert A, Hogan J, Hoxha E, Wiech T, Rinschen MM, Ronco P, Vivarelli M, Gesualdo L, Tomas NM, Huber TB; International Society of Glomerular Disease. N Engl J Med. 2024 Aug 1;391(5):422-433. |
3. | Seifert L, Riecken K, Zahner G, Hambach J, Hagenstein J, Dubberke G, Huber TB, Koch-Nolte F, Fehse B, Tomas NM. Kidney Int. 2024 Apr;105(4):886-889. |
4. | Tomas NM, Schnarre A, Dehde S, Lucas R, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Kretz O, Koellner SMS, Wiech T, Koch-Nolte F, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Kidney Int. 2023 Nov;104(5):916-928. |
5. | Seifert L, Zahner G, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Hickstein N, Dehde S, Wulf S, Köllner SMS, Lucas R, Kylies D, Froembling S, Zielinski S, Kretz O, Borodovsky A, Biniaminov S, Wang Y, Cheng H, Koch-Nolte F, Zipfel PF, Hopfer H, Puelles VG, Panzer U, Huber TB, Wiech T, Tomas NM. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 28; 14(1):473. |
6. | Tomas NM, Dehde S, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Huang M, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Maybaum J, Lucas R, von der Heide JL, Kretz O, Köllner S, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Kidney Int. 2022 Sep 30:S0085-2538(22)00804-3. |
7. | The Most N-Terminal Region of THSD7A Is the Predominant Target for Autoimmunity in THSD7A-Associated Membranous Nephropathy. |
8. | Autoantibodies against thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A induce membranous nephropathy. |
9. | A Mechanism for Cancer-Associated Membranous Nephropathy. |
10. | Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. |
Martinistraße 52
Campus Research II N25
20246 Hamburg Germany