Alexander Nyström

Alexander Nyström (Ph.D.) is a Research Group Leader and tenured investigator in the Department of Dermatology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Germany. He trained in biochemistry and molecular biology at Lund University, Sweden, where he obtained his Ph.D. for work on laminins in health and disease, and completed postdoctoral training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia in the laboratory of Renato Iozzo, studying proteoglycans, and at the University of Freiburg in the laboratory of Leena Bruckner-Tuderman, investigating the extracellular matrix in skin biology. He has led an independent research group in Freiburg since 2013.

His research examines the biology of the extracellular matrix, particularly collagens, and how its dysregulation contributes to chronic wounds, fibrosis, cancer, and genetic skin diseases. A major area of investigation is dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, caused by deficiency of type VII collagen, with parallel efforts aimed at developing causative and evidence-based symptom-relief therapies with relevance beyond rare genetic diseases.

He has received research funding from the German Research Foundation, the European Union, federal ministries, foundations, and industry partners. He is President of the German Society for Matrix Biology, former Council Member of the International Society for Matrix Biology, and Chair-Elect (Vice Chair 2025) of the Gordon Research Conference on Collagen. He is also a former recipient of the Rupert Timpl Award from the International Society for Matrix Biology and the European Society for Dermatological Research Future Leader in Dermatology distinction. He is Section Editor for Cell and Tissue Research and Associate Editor for the American Journal of Physiology – Cell Physiology, and serves on the editorial boards of Matrix Biology and Matrix Biology Plus.