Main Content
Research
Our research focus is on the establishment and characterization of new disorder models in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and amphetamine addiction. To this end, we use a variety of immunohistochemical, microscopic, and functional methods to investigate disease mechanisms at the cellular level.
Cell type-specific neuronal tracing
The performance of our brain is based on complex neuronal interconnections of the individual brain regions. Using state-of-the-art cell type-specific viral tracing methods (e.g. "retroAAV", or "pseudotyped rabies virus"), we investigate disorder-related changes in the anatomical network structure. By combining anterograde and retrograde mapping experiments, changes can be visualized on a brain-wide level.
*Henrich MT, *Geibl FF, Lakshminarasimhan H, Stegmann A, Giasson BI, Mao X, Dawson VL, Dawson TM, Oertel WH, Surmeier DJ. 2020. Determinants of seeding and spreading of α-synuclein pathology in the brain. (*shared first authors). Sci Adv.
Bioenergetics of neurodegeneration
Using genetically encoded biosensors (e.g. PercevalHR, mito-roGFP, mito-GCamP) in combination with 2-photon microscopy, we investigate how the energy production of neurons changes in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim is to develop new disease-modifying therapies based on the optimization of cellular bioenergetics.
Henderson MX, Henrich MT, Geibl FF, Oertel WH, Brundin P, Surmeier DJ. 2022. The roles of connectivity and neuronal phenotype in determining the pattern of α-synuclein pathology in Parkinson’s disease. Neurobiol Dis.
Cellular mechanisms of amphetamine addiction
Amphetamine dependence represents a common clinical picture in psychiatry. The aim of this project is to establish a new mouse model of amphetamine dependence. In a first step, we will investigate which neuronal networks are active during acute intoxication and withdrawal.