NeuroCure Research Fellowships - for Female Postdocs in the Neurosciences

Affiliation

Deutsches Zentrum für Neuroregenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE)

Research Focus

The research group "Neurological Developmental Disorders" focuses on pontocerebellar hypoplasia, a disease of the brain associated with underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the cerebellum and bridge. Our research looks at the four areas of the synapse (pre- and postsynapse, glial cells, extracellular matrix), with an emphasis on the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigate the effects of disorders in the ECM on the development and function of synapses and neuronal circuits and how they influence the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. We perform our studies in a genetically modified model system as well as in primary cell cultures (neurons, astrocytes). We use cell biological and biochemical methods and combine them with modern light microscopy.

Affiliation

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Research Focus

The output of neural circuits depends on the strength and integration of the brain’s building blocks – synapses - releasing excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters. A balance of excitation and inhibition within the circuits is crucial for normal brain function. The aim of the project “Functional and molecular diversity of inhibitory and excitatory synapses” is to address whether the molecular mechanisms underlying diversity in function at the synapse level contribute to establishing the excitation/inhibition balance in neural networks. Using electrophysiology, imaging and molecular biology tools, my group will investigate physiological processes at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. By defining how - and why - excitatory and inhibitory synapses behave differently, we will uncover potential pathways to investigate excitation/inhibition imbalanced states, such as in neurological diseases.

Affiliation

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Research Focus

The primary aim of Anna Kufner´s research project entitled “Lesion-network mapping (LNM) of post-stroke symptoms” is to identify the role of stroke lesions and their effects on functional brain connectivity in the development of complex post-stroke deficits. The current project will pool MRI and clinical data of >1500 ischemic stroke patients from four large prospective stroke cohorts. As part of a newly established collaboration with the Charité NetStim Lab and Center for Stroke Berlin Neuroradiology, our research group will apply a novel methodology – LNM – to better characterize and subsequently predict a range of post-stroke symptoms including acute delirium, post-stroke depression, long-term cognitive impairment, and cardiac dysfunction. The overarching goal of this collaborative project is to better understand, predict, and ultimately treat these highly clinically relevant post-stroke neurological deficits.

Affiliation

Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)

Research Focus

The aim of Tania López-Hernández’s research project “Functional interplay between vesicular trafficking and regulation of ion homeostasis in neurological disorders” is to better understand the role of protein transporters and ion channels in the maintenance of ionic homeostasis for proper brain function, and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for massive ionic shifts during excitotoxicity, with a special focus on the distinctive responses between neurons and glial cells. I am particularly interested in unraveling the emerging functions of the endosomal Na+/H+ exchangers (NHE) and how alterations in their activity lead to the pathobiology of intellectual disability, autism and other related disorders. Cutting-edge genome engineering in human stem cell-derived neurons and –astrocytes, as well as genetic manipulations with viral vectors will be combined with proteomics, siRNA screenings, live imaging, and sensor-/tracer-based functional assays to study the mechanisms of ion fluxes across intracellular membranes to improve our knowledge about the impact of ions and pH on the regulation of neuronal function and plasticity.

Affiliation

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Research Focus

Marta Orlando's research project "Synaptic plasticity in health and disease" focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. She seeks to understand how an imbalance in these processes can lead to neurological disorders. The research focus is on the extent to which the spatial organization of the presynaptic terminal promotes a long-term increase in neurotransmission. The following methods are used in a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach: high-pressure freezing and electron microscopy, live and high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, and electrophysiological and optogenetic stimulation.

Affiliation

Freie Universität Berlin

Research Focus

Lisa Scheunemann's research project "Context-dependent modulation of memory systems" examines the rules according to which the brain stores experiences in long-term memory. The focus is on the inhibitory mechanisms that suppress memory formation and allow it only for certain experiences. I would like to investigate how in particular the physiological context (e.g. diet or stress) influences the evaluation of information and thus could also regulate the selective consolidation of memories. I am particularly interested in the extent to which neuromodulation through serotonin could create an interplay between the physiological state and memory systems. I work with the Drosophila melanogaster model system, as precise genetic tools enable a detailed analysis of molecular and cellular learning mechanisms. Primarily behavioral studies and in vivo imaging are used.

Affiliation

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Research Focus

This research project investigates the effects of childhood maltreatment (CM) at the neural circuit and behavioral level, with a focus on CM subtypes, namely sexual and emotional abuse, and their association with mental disorders. The long-term aim is to develop mechanism-informed strategies for ‘reversibility’ of CM sequelae through specialized, targeted behavioral intervention. Our project seeks to address these aims by combining basic neuroscience research from human and animal studies, using functional, structural and connectivity neuroimaging techniques, as well as psychobiological, behavioral and translational research methods.