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CV & Research

Between university hospital and public engagement

Today, Berenike Kunzmann's focus is on high-resolution retinal imaging. She oversees the German National Cohort (NAKO) health study and researches new drugs such as faricimab for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Medical career

After studying human medicine at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, which she completed in 2008 with a doctorate in medicine, Berenike Kunzmann initially gained broad clinical experience: From 2008 to 2010 she worked in the Medical Clinic of Tübingen, Department IV, specializing in kidney and hypertension diseases, angiology and endocrinology.

 

In 2015, she switched to her original field, ophthalmology, and completed her specialist training at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen in 2022. At the same time, from 2020 to 2022, she deepened her surgical and conservative skills in the Drs. Paquet/Klameth group practice in Nagold.

After completing her specialist examination, she cared for patients in an ophthalmology practice in Pforzheim in 2023 and 2024. Since 2023, she has been a senior physician in charge of the macular consultation at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen, supporting patients with retinal diseases from the initial diagnosis to long-term treatment.

 

Ms Kunzmann was born in Tübingen in 1982, is married, has two children and lives in Pforzheim.

 

"I love spending my free time reading, hiking, sailing, playing the piano, and dancing. Culture and cuisine — everything that touches the heart, mind, and soul — inspires me."

After studying human medicine at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, which she completed in 2008 with a doctorate in medicine, Berenike Kunzmann initially gained broad clinical experience: From 2008 to 2010, she worked in Department IV of the Tübingen Medical Clinic, specializing in kidney and hypertension diseases, angiology and endocrinology.

​

In 2015, she switched to her original field, ophthalmology, and completed her residency at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen until 2022. At the same time, from 2020 to 2022, she furthered her surgical and conservative skills in the Drs. Paquet/Klameth group practice in Nagold.

​

After completing her specialist examination, she cared for patients in an ophthalmology practice in Pforzheim in 2023 and 2024. Since 2023, she has been a senior physician in charge of the macular consultation at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen, supporting patients with retinal diseases from the initial diagnosis to long-term treatment.

 

Dr. Kunzmann was born in Tübingen in 1982, is married, has two children and lives in Pforzheim.

 

"I love spending my free time reading, hiking, sailing, playing the piano, and dancing. Culture and cuisine—everything that touches the heart, mind, and soul—inspires me."

Overview

  • 2005–2007 Research with Prof. Dr. med. Zrenner, University Eye Clinic Tübingen on electrophysiology under hypoxic conditions

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  • 2013 Dissertation with Prof. Risler on the topic “Erythropoietin and anemia in declining kidney function: Different regulation in autologous kidneys and after transplantation” Medical Clinic Tübingen, Department IV, Section for Kidney and Hypertension Diseases

  • 2015–2018 Research projects with Prof. Dr. Spitzer at the University Eye Clinic Tübingen on the topic of cornea and silicone oils/ppV

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  • Since 2018, research activity with a focus on retinal assessment as part of the Nako health study (Prof. Bartz-Schmidt/Prof. Üffing), currently research project on IVOM therapy with faricimab for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy

  • 2005–2007 Research with Prof. Dr. med. Zrenner, University Eye Clinic Tübingen on electrophysiology under hypoxic conditions

​

  • 2013 Dissertation under Prof. Risler on the topic “Erythropoietin and anemia in declining kidney function: Different regulation in autologous kidneys and after transplantation” Medical Clinic Tübingen, Department IV, Section for Kidney and Hypertension Diseases

​

  • 2015–2018 Research projects with Prof. Dr. Spitzer at the University Eye Clinic Tübingen on the topic of cornea and silicone oils/ppV

​

  • Since 2018, research activity with a focus on retinal assessment as part of the Nako health study (Prof. Bartz-Schmidt/Prof. Üffing), currently research project on IVOM therapy with faricimab for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy

Publications, conferences, lectures

  • Conference contribution: Messias A., Gekeler F., Stecher K., Prayon B., Baryluk A., Zrenner E. Recovery of the scotopic b-wave of the electroretinogram after light exposure in mice. X Congress of the international society of ocular toxicology, Bonn - 2006.

  • Conference contribution: Stecher K., Messias A., Baryluk A., Prayon B., Zrenner E., Gekeler, F. Recovery of the a- and b-Wave of the ERG After Photo Pigment Bleaching in Rats Using a Modified Double Flash Paradigm to Assess Visual Cycle Function. ARVO, 2007, Fort Lauderdale.

  • Conference paper: B. Prayon, M. Guthoff, A. Königsrainer, T. Risler, F. Artunc, N. Heyne. Erythropoietin and anemia in declining renal function: Different regulation in autologous kidneys and after transplantation. 1st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Nephrology, September 2009, Göttingen.

  • Publication: Seizer P, Prayon B, Gröne E, Müssig K. Rare differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury—Case 09/2009. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2009 Oct;134(44):2231

  • Conference paper: M. Guthoff, B. Prayon, F. Artunc, A. Königsrainer, N. Heyne. Differential response to anemia of endogenous erythropoietin with progressive renal functional impairment in native kidneys and renal allografts. 18th Annual Meeting of the German Transplantation Society, 2009, Berlin

  • Publication: Novel Thixotropic Silicone Oils - The Ketchup Bottle Approach for Silicone Oil Endotamponades. Christian Klameth, Berenike Kunzmann, Maximilian Schultheiß, Rolf Daniels, Nelli Klameth, Martin Spitzer. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 2019; 236(01): 69-73. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-106303

  • Lecture at the Baden-Württemberg Ophthalmologists' Association (BWAV) 2016 in Stuttgart on the topic "Effect of phacoemulsification on porcine corneal endothelium"

  • Publication: Establishment of a porcine corneal endothelial organ culture model for research purposes. Kunzmann BC, Hellwinkel OJC, Klameth C, Wenzel D, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Cell Tissue Bank. 2018 Sep;19(3):269-276. doi: 10.1007/s10561-017-9669-7. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

  • Publication: Staining of endothelial cells does not change the result of cell density. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Cell Tissue Bank. 2019 Jun;20(2):327-328. doi: 10.1007/s10561-019-09759-6. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

  • Publication: Effects of Perfluorobutylpentane (F4H5) on Corneal Endothelial Cells. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Druchkiv V, Hellwinkel O, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Curr Eye Res. 2019 Aug;44(8):823–831. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2019.1597891. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

  • Publication: A Porcine Corneal Endothelial Organ Culture Model Using Split Corneal Buttons. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Steinhorst NA, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. J Vis Exp. 2019 Oct 6;(152). doi: 10.3791/60171

  • Publication: Effects of ultrasound energy on the porcine corneal endothelium - Establishment of a phacoemulsification injury model. Kunzmann BC, Wenzel DA, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Acta Ophthalmol. 2020 Mar;98(2):e155-e160. doi: 10.1111/aos.14235. Epub 2019 Aug 30

  • Lecture at the Tübingen Ophthalmologists' Evening 05/2023 on the topic "First experiences with bispecific antibodies (Faricimab)"

  • Presentation at the event “Augen auf – Bodensee” 10/2023 on the topic “What are the first experiences in the clinic (Faricimab)?”

  • Presentations at the ASM Congress 05/2024: "The Athlete's Eye – What is Sports Ophthalmology?", "Sports Despite Eye Disease" and "Sports Traumatology of the Eye"

  • Publication: Kunzmann BC, Schweig AS, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Sobolewska B. Real-WorldData of Treatment-Naïve and Previously Treated Patients Receiving Up to 3 Injections of Faricimab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024 Dec 28;18:4029-4039. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S482948. PMID: 39749039; PMCID: PMC11694016.

  • Lecture at the Arcus Winter Symposium 03/2025: “The Athlete's Eye – What is Sports Ophthalmology?” Practical course on “This can affect the eye – Practical tips for sports physicians.”

  • Conference contribution: Messias A., Gekeler F., Stecher K., Prayon B., Baryluk A., Zrenner E. Recovery of the scotopic b-wave of the electroretinogram after light exposure in mice. X Congress of the international society of ocular toxicology, Bonn - 2006.

​

  • Conference contribution: Stecher K., Messias A., Baryluk A., Prayon B., Zrenner E., Gekeler, F. Recovery of the a- and b-Wave of the ERG After Photo Pigment Bleaching in Rats Using a Modified Double Flash Paradigm to Assess Visual Cycle Function. ARVO, 2007, Fort Lauderdale.

​

  • Conference paper: B. Prayon, M. Guthoff, A. Königsrainer, T. Risler, F. Artunc, N. Heyne. Erythropoietin and anemia in declining renal function: Different regulation in autologous kidneys and after transplantation. 1st Annual Meeting of the German Society of Nephrology, September 2009, Göttingen.

​

  • Publication: Seizer P, Prayon B, Gröne E, Müssig K. Rare differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury—Case 09/2009. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2009 Oct;134(44):2231

​

  • Conference paper: M. Guthoff, B. Prayon, F. Artunc, A. Königsrainer, N. Heyne. Differential response to anemia of endogenous erythropoietin with progressive renal functional impairment in native kidneys and renal allografts. 18th Annual Meeting of the German Transplantation Society, 2009, Berlin

​

  • Publication: Novel Thixotropic Silicone Oils - The Ketchup Bottle Approach for Silicone Oil Endotamponades. Christian Klameth, Berenike Kunzmann, Maximilian Schultheiß, Rolf Daniels, Nelli Klameth, Martin Spitzer. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 2019; 236(01): 69-73. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-106303

​

  • Lecture at the Baden-Württemberg Ophthalmologists' Association (BWAV) 2016 in Stuttgart on the topic "Effect of phacoemulsification on porcine corneal endothelium"

​

  • Publication: Establishment of a porcine corneal endothelial organ culture model for research purposes. Kunzmann BC, Hellwinkel OJC, Klameth C, Wenzel D, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Cell Tissue Bank. 2018 Sep;19(3):269-276. doi: 10.1007/s10561-017-9669-7. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

​

  • Publication: Staining of endothelial cells does not change the result of cell density. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Cell Tissue Bank. 2019 Jun;20(2):327-328. doi: 10.1007/s10561-019-09759-6. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

​

  • Publication: Effects of Perfluorobutylpentane (F4H5) on Corneal Endothelial Cells. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Druchkiv V, Hellwinkel O, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Curr Eye Res. 2019 Aug;44(8):823-831. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2019.1597891. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

​

  • Publication: A Porcine Corneal Endothelial Organ Culture Model Using Split Corneal Buttons. Wenzel DA, Kunzmann BC, Steinhorst NA, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. J Vis Exp. 2019 Oct 6;(152). doi: 10.3791/60171

​

  • Publication: Effects of ultrasound energy on the porcine corneal endothelium - Establishment of a phacoemulsification damage model. Kunzmann BC, Wenzel DA, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M. Acta Ophthalmol. 2020 Mar;98(2):e155- e160. doi: 10.1111/aos.14235. Epub 2019 Aug 30

​

  • Lecture at the Tübingen Ophthalmologists’ Evening 05/2023 on the topic “Initial experiences with bispecific antibodies (Faricimab)”

​

  • Lecture at the event “Eyes Open – Lake Constance” 10/2023 on the topic “What are the initial experiences in the clinic (Faricimab)”

​

  • Lectures at the ASM Congress 05/2024: “The athlete’s eye – what is sports ophthalmology”, “Sports despite eye disease” and “Sports-related eye trauma”

​

  • Publication: Kunzmann BC, Schweig AS, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Sobolewska B. Real-WorldData of Treatment-Naïve and Previously Treated Patients Receiving Up to 3 Injections of Faricimab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024 Dec 28;18:4029-4039. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S482948. PMID: 39749039; PMCID: PMC11694016.

​

  • Lecture at the Arcus Winter Symposium 03/2025: “The athlete’s eye – what is sports ophthalmology“, Practical course with the topic “That could hit the eye – Practical tips for sports physicians”

​

Memberships

  • German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)

  • Federal Association of German Ophthalmologists (BVA)

  • Federal Association of Private Physicians (PBV)

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