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Advancing Knowledge. Improving Care.

Frank

Behrens

,

MD

Professor and Head of Clinical Research
Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology
Frankfurt am Main
,
Germany
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Dr. Frank Behrens is a Professor of Translational Rheumatology, Immunology, and Inflammation Medicine and Head of the Inflammation Clinic (Rheumatology, Inflammatory Skin Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) at the University Hospital and a Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP) at the Goethe-University Frankfurt. He is a member of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-mediated- disease (CIMO) Board of Directors.

Prof. Behren’s primary research interest is the pathophysiological understanding of spondyloarthritides, rheumatoid arthritis, and mixed connected tissue disease. The focus is on understanding the links between these rheumatic conditions and associated skin and bowel diseases. The work aims to develop new drug therapies and implement personalized treatment approaches using combined biomarker analyses and new imaging techniques.

Before studying human medicine, Prof. Behrens studied biology at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. He completed his doctorate in hematology and oncology and then trained in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was awarded a scholarship to the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, where he researched the role and function of regulatory T cells in chronic arthritis and angiogenesis in psoriatic disease. Prof. Behrens then focused on translational research and developing new therapeutic options, particularly in psoriatic arthritis. Since 2001, he has gained experience in clinical research and development as Principal Investigator, Chief Investigator, and Managing Investigator. He is responsible for several investigator-initiated studies in rheumatic diseases.

Prof. Behrens has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and is the author of several textbooks on rheumatic diseases. He is a member of various international committees and study groups, such as the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), the Expert Panel on Outcome of Systemic Sclerosis (EPOSS), and the Psoriatic Arthritis Genetic European Consortium (PAGE).
Last Updated:
08/10/2023

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What's New

Psoriasis: An Expert Global Perspective Is Now Available for Pre-Order

IPC Board Member and Treasurer Joel Gelfand, MD, MSCE, is the editor of a new textbook, Psoriasis: An Expert Global Perspective, now available for preorder from Elsevier. He worked with associate editors IPC President Bruce Strober, MD, PhD; IPC Vice President/President-Elect Claudia de la Cruz, MD; and IPC Chief Medical Officer Peter van de Kerkhof, MD, PhD. Nearly 50 authors from 20 countries contributed 30 chapters covering psoriasis from its earliest descriptions through genetics, immunology, and current therapies, with clinical images of psoriasis across diverse skin tones. All royalties support IPC.

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Thursday, September 10, 2026

New Video Resource: Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

In this video, IPC Councilor Rodrigo Garcia Salinas, MD, a rheumatologist from Argentina, explains how to recognize psoriatic arthritis early, including why joint pain, how long a patient has had psoriasis, and family history can matter more than skin severity alone. He also reviews how imaging helps catch early disease and how to choose treatment based on each patient’s joint, spine, and skin involvement.

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Take Ten Video: Bridging Psoriasis and Metabolic Comorbidities

IPC President Bruce Strober reviews the link between psoriasis and metabolic disease, drawing on findings from IPC’s recent paper in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD). He translates this growing body of evidence into five concrete priorities from the 2025 IPC Think Tank for improving cardiometabolic screening and care.

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