Dr. Lucius Fekonja
Lucius Fekonja studied Knowledge Visualization at the Art Academies in Lucerne and Zurich and worked in earlier projects on neurosurgical and evolutionary biological topics.
He received his doctorate from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin on the topic of diffusion MRI based dissection of fiber bundles in tumor patients.
His research in the project Cutting is dedicated to the analysis and representation of the brain’s white matter based on MRI data. This is achieved in particular by tractography, which also centrally guides image-based surgical planning.
Lucius' analyses and visualizations translate the activity of functional networks. He is therefore interested in how images represent complex knowledge and how they acquire their own instructive character. The studies and prototypes that are created in this work process move in the field of tension between analog drawing and digital modelling.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Monographs & Books
Fekonja, L. S. 2020. Anleitung zur klinischen Sprachtraktografie. Belin: Charité - Universitätsmedizin.
https://doi.org/10.17169/refubium-26958
Articles
Fekonja, L. S., Schenk, R., Schröder, E., Tomasello, R., Tomšič, S., Picht, T. 2024. »The Digital Twin in Neuroscience: From Theory to Tailored Therapy.« PsyArXiv. 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/fnpcz
Hoffmann, C. J., Kuffner, M. T., Koschützke, L., Lorenz, S., Lips, J., Boehm-Sturm, P., Mueller, S., Koch, S. P., An, J., Fekonja, L. S., Bugaeva, P., Rex, A., Tünnemann, G. L., Endres, M., Harms, C. 2023. »Zfp580 inactivation as a new therapeutic target to enhance recovery after stroke in mice.« Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 43 (8): 1400-1418.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X231168499
Shams, B., Reisch, K., Vajkoczy, P., Lippert, C., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. 2023. »Improved prediction of glioma‐related aphasia by diffusion MRI metrics, machine learning, and automated fiber bundle segmentation.« Human Brain Mapping, 44 (12): 4480-4497.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.26393
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Cacciola, A., Roine, T., Aydogan, D. B., Mewes, D., Vellmer, S., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2022. »Network analysis shows decreased ipsilesional structural connectivity in glioma patients.« Communications Biology, 5: 258.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03190-6
Reisch, K., Böttcher, F., Tuncer, M. S., Schneider, H., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. 2022. »Tractography-based navigated TMS language mapping protocol.« Frontiers in Oncology, 12
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1008442
Shams, B., Wang, Z., Roine, T., Aydogan, D. B., Vajkoczy, P., Lippert, C., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. 2022. »Machine learning-based prediction of motor status in glioma patients using diffusion MRI metrics along the corticospinal tract.« Brain Communications, 4 (3): fcac141.
https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac141
Tuncer, M. S., Fekonja, L. S., Ott, S., Pfnür, A., Karbe, A., Engelhardt, M., Faust, K., Picht, T., Coburger, J., Dührsen, L., Vajkoczy, P., Onken, J. 2022. »Role of interhemispheric connectivity in recovery from postoperative supplementary motor area syndrome in glioma patients.« Journal of Neurosurgery. 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.3171/2022.10.JNS221303
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Aydogan, D. B., Roine, T., Engelhardt, M., Dreyer, F. R., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2021. »Detecting Corticospinal Tract Impairment in Tumor Patients With Fiber Density and Tensor-Based Metrics.« Frontiers in Oncology, 10: 622358.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.622358
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Doppelbauer, L., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T., Pulvermüller, F., Dreyer, F. R. 2021. »Lesion-symptom mapping of language impairments in patients suffering from left perisylvian gliomas.« Cortex, 144: 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2021.08.002
Picht, T., Calvé, M. L., Tomasello, R., Fekonja, L., Gholami, M. F., Bruhn, M., Zwick, C., Rabe, J. P., Müller-Birn, C., Vajkoczy, P., Sauer, I. M., Zachow, S., Nyakatura, J. A., Ribault, P., Pulvermüller, F. 2021. »Letter: A Note on Neurosurgical Resection and Why We Need to Rethink Cutting.« Neurosurgery. E289–E291.
https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyab326
Schilling, K. G., Rheault, F., Petit, L., Hansen, C. B., Nath, V., Yeh, F. C., . . ., Fekonja, L.S., . . ., Descoteaux, M. 2021. »Tractography dissection variability: What happens when 42 groups dissect 14 white matter bundles on the same dataset?« Neuroimage, 243
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118502
Schlinkmann, N., Khakhar, R., Picht, T., Piper, S. K., Fekonja, L. S., Vajkoczy, P., Acker, G. 2021. »Does stereoscopic imaging improve the memorization of medical imaging by neurosurgeons? Experience of a single institution.« Neurosurgical Review, 45 (2): 1371-1381.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01623-0
Shams, B., Wang, Z., Roine, T., Aydogan, B., Vajkoczy, P., Lippert, C., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. 2021. »Machine learning-based prediction of motor status in glioma patients using diffusion MRI metrics along the corticospinal tract.« medRxiv.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262484
Tuncer, M., Salvati, L., Grittner, U., Hardt, J., Schilling, R., Bährend, I., Silva, L., Fekonja, L., Faust, K., Vajkoczy, P., Rosenstock, T., Picht, T. 2021. »Towards a tractography-based risk stratification model for language area associated gliomas.« NeuroImage: Clinical, 29: 102541.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102541
Wang, Z., Dreyer, F., Pulvermüller, F., Ntemou, E., Vajkoczy, P., Fekonja, L., Picht, T. 2021. »Support vector machine based aphasia classification of transcranial magnetic stimulation language mapping in brain tumor patients.« NeuroImage: Clinical, 29: 102536.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102536
Fekonja, L., Wang, Z., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T., Dreyer, F. 2020. »FV19 Lesion-symptom mapping of left perisylvian tumor patients with aphasic disorders.« Clinical Neurophysiology, 131 (4): e232.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2019.12.109
Schilling, K. G., Rheault, F., Petit, L., et int., Fekonja, L., et al. 2020. »Tractography dissection variability: what happens when 42 groups dissect 14 white matter bundles on the same dataset?« bioRxiv. 1-17.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.07.321083
Wessels, L., Fekonja, L. S., Achberger, J., Dengler, J., Czabanka, M., Hecht, N., Schneider, U., Tkatschenko, D., Schebesch, K., Schmidt, N. O., Mielke, D., Hosch, H., Ganslandt, O., Gräwe, A., Hong, B., Walter, J., Güresir, E., Bijlenga, P., Haemmerli, J., Maldaner, N., Marbacher, S., Nurminen, V., Zitek, H., Dammers, R., Kato, N., Linfante, I., Pedro, M., Wrede, K., Wang, W., Wostrack, M., Vajkoczy, P. 2020. »Diagnostic reliability of the Berlin classification for complex MCA aneurysms—usability in a series of only giant aneurysms.« Acta Neurochirurgica, 162 (11): 2753-2758.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-020-04565-6
Acker, G., Schlinkmann, N., Fekonja, L., Grünwald, L., Hardt, J., Czabanka, M., Vajkoczy, P. 2019. »Wound healing complications after revascularization for moyamoya vasculopathy with reference to different skin incisions.« Neurosurgical Focus, 46 (2): E12.
https://doi.org/10.3171/2018.11.focus18512
Fekonja, L., Wang, Z., Bährend, I., Rosenstock, T., Rösler, J., Wallmeroth, L., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2019. »Manual for clinical language tractography.« Acta Neurochirurgica, 161 (6): 1125-1137.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03899-0
Hecht, N., Wessels, L., Fekonja, L., von Weitzel-Mudersbach, P., Vajkoczy, P. 2019. »Bypass strategies for common carotid artery occlusion.« Acta Neurochirurgica, 161 (10): 1993-2002.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-04001-4
Hoffmann, J., Kreutz, K. M., Csapó-Schmidt, C., Becker, N., Kunte, H., Fekonja, L. S., Jadan, A., Wiener, E. 2019. »The effect of CSF drain on the optic nerve in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.« The Journal of Headache and Pain, 20: 59.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-019-1004-1
Onken, J. S., Fekonja, L. S., Wehowsky, R., Hubertus, V., Vajkoczy, P. 2019. »Metastatic dissemination patterns of different primary tumors to the spine and other bones.« Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 36 (6): 493-498.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-019-09987-w
Wessels, L., Fekonja, L. S., Vajkoczy, P. 2019. »Bypass surgery of complex middle cerebral artery aneurysms—technical aspects and outcomes.« Acta Neurochirurgica, 161 (10): 1981-1991.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-04042-9
Acker, G., Fekonja, L., Vajkoczy, P. 2018. »Surgical Management of Moyamoya Disease.« Stroke, 49 (2): 476-482.
https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.117.018563
Loebel, F., Fekonja, L., Vajkoczy, P., Hecht, N. 2018. »Hangman's Fracture Caused by Parachute Opening Deceleration Captured on Video.« World Neurosurgery, 119: 389-393.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2018.08.089
Conference Proceedings
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2019. »Along-tract statistical analysis to detect early corticospinal tract impairment in brain tumour patients. Along-tract statistische Analyse zurFrüherkennung von Beeinträchtigungen dercorticospinalen Faserbahnbei Gerhirntumorpatienten.« Meeting Abstract. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 70. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie, Joint Meeting mit der Skandinavischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 12.05. - 15.05.2019, Würzburg.
https://doi.org/10.3205/19DGNC496
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2019. »Automated tract segmentation in language tumour patients. Automatisierte Faserbahnsegmentierung bei Sprachtumorpatienten.« Meeting Abstract. 70. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie Joint Meeting mit der Skandinavischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie, 12.05. - 15.05.2019, Würzburg.
https://doi.org/10.3205/19DGNC303
Wang, Z., Fekonja, L., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2019. »rnTMS language speech mapping analysis in MNI space reveals neuronal functional reorganisation rnTMS Sprachmapping-Analyse im MNI space zeigt neuronale funktionale Reorganisation.« Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 70. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Skandinavischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Würzburg, 12.-15.05.2019. DocP161. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2019.
https://doi.org/10.3205/19DGNC498
Fekonja, L. S., Bährend, I., Schneider, H., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2018. »The Impact of different tractography algorithms on fiber tract visualization.« Meeting Abstract. 69. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Mexikanischen und Kolumbianischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Münster, 03.-06.06.2018. DocV072. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House.
https://doi.org/10.3205/18DGNC073
Software Publications
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Aydogan, D. B., Roine, T., Engelhardt, M., Dreyer, F. R., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2020. Code used in article »CSD-based metric for along-tract statistical analysis in primary motor tumor patients«.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3732348
Mewes, D., Tournier, J-D., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. 2020. Implementation of OpenIGTLink tool in MRtrix3's mrview. mrtrix3-v0.1.
https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.3755569
Wang, Z., Fekonja, L. S., Dreyer, F., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. 2020. SVM code for article: Analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation for object naming with machine learning classification shows reorganisation patterns in tumor patients.
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3727664
Exhibitions
Fekonja, L., Picht, T., Rasehorn, F. Adaptive Digital Twin. Exhibition. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Humboldt Labor, Humboldt Forum Berlin. Since 21 July 2020.
https://www.humboldt-labor.de/de/projekte/exzellenzcluster/adaptive-digital-twin
Talks & Presentations
Fekonja, L., for Berlin Science Week. ADAPTIVE DIGITAL TWIN. Expert tour and talk in the Humboldt Labor about adaptive holographic models of the human brain, Berlin Science Week. Humboldt Forum Berlin. 4 November 2021.
https://berlinscienceweek.com/de/event/__trashed-28/
Fekonja, L. Network based statistics reveal motor-tumour related decrease of structural connectivity. Poster presentation at the 73. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie, Skull base, radiosurgery, perspectives. Virtual. 8 June 2021.
Shams, B., Wang, Z., Roine, T., Aydogan, B., Vajkoczy, P., Lippert, C., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. S. Machine learning based prediction of motor status using corticospinal tract tractometry. Talk at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Virtual. 6 June 2021.
Fekonja, L. Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Cluster (EPIC) Kickoff Workshop. Talk at the Experimental and Preclinical Imaging Cluster (EPIC) Kickoff Workshop, Tools – Methods – Models – Research Questions. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Virtual. 12 November 2020.
Fekonja, L. S., Wang, Z., Vajkoczy, P., Picht, T. Automated tract segmentation in language tumour patients. Automatisierte Faserbahnsegmentierung bei Sprachtumorpatienten. Poster presentation at the 70. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie, Joint Meeting mit der Skandinavischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Würzburg, 12.-15.05.2019. 14 May 2019.
Events & Workshops
Nestler, A., Ott, C., Wegener, F. (organizers), with contributions by Akbal, Z., Almpani-Lekka, D., Beyer, B., Dierichs, K., Eder, M., Farmer, J., Fekonja, L., Krauthauen, K., Miodragović, N., Queisner, M., Rodrigues, L., Singer, N., Stein, C, Winkler, C. Open Space – Active Matter on Stage. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Berlin. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 8 November 2023 - 9 November 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11681/open-space-active-matter-on-stage
Teaching & Courses
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Marienberg, S., Ostherr, K., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 10 July 2023 - 21 July 2023.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 10 July 2023 - 21 July 2023.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Avenati, O., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Rasehorn, F., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. 18 July 2022 - 29 July 2022.
Picht, T., Amelung, K., Avenati, O., Chakkalakal, D., Engelhardt, M., Fekonja, L., Le Calve, M., Ostherr, K., Rasehorn, F., Ribault, P., Shams, B., Stein, C., Vellmer, S., Samuel, N., Sauer, I., Acker, G., Choejki, P. Adaptive Digital Twin. Block Seminar, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. 24 January 2022 - 4 February 2022.
Le Calvé, M., Avenati, O., Simatic, M., Picht, T., Fekonja, L. Brain Roads. Experiments in visualization design. Practical course, Mentoring and Lecturer in a pedagogical research process. ESAD Reims/Telecom Sud Paris. 18 November 2020 - 20 August 2021.
Picht, T., with Fekonja, L., Rasehorn, F., Le Calvé, M. Adaptive Digital Twin. Wahlpflichtmodul., Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. 1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021.
(Co)Supervisions of Qualification Theses
Fekonja, L. 2023. First supervisor of Johannes Reilly. Lab rotation supervision. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Fekonja, L. 2023. First supervisor of Nina Müller-Wirth. Lab rotation supervision. Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Prizes & Competition Awards
Rasehorn, F. 2020. German Design Graduates. Design Research Award nominee. »Digital Twin.« German Design Graduates.
https://germandesigngraduates.com/projekt-digital-twin/?lang=en
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Fekonja, L., Picht, T., Ritter, P. 2020. The Language Connectome in Brain Tumor Patients. DFG, Project funding.
Schäffner, W., Picht, T., Fekonja, L., Avenati, O. 2020. Förderprogramm PPP Frankreich - PROCOPE 2020 - "Brain Roads". DAAD, Project funding.
https://fis.hu-berlin.de/converis/portal/detail/Project/902932658?auxfun=&lang=de_DE
Cooperations
Fekonja, L., Picht T. (founders) Since 2023. TNN - Translational Network Neuroscience. International workgroup.
Picht, T., Avenati, O., 2020 - 2021. Brain Roads 2. Interdisciplinary French-German project with ESAD de Reims; Télécom SudParis - Institut polytechnique de Paris; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Picht, T., Avenati, O., Fekonja, L. (PIs) 2019 - 2020. Brain Roads I. Interdisciplinary French-German project with Simatic, M. with ESAD de Reims; Télécom SudParis - Institut polytechnique de Paris; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
https://entreformesetsignes.fr/la-recherche/programme-datavisualisation/brain-roads
Press Articles
Fekonja, L. 2020. »Begegnung mit dem digitalen Zwilling unseres Gehirns.« 18 November 2020.
https://www.humboldt-labor.de/de/journal/begegnung-mit-dem-digitalen-zwilling-unseres-gehirns