Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology

The central nervous system presents a daunting complexity and variety of cell types and axonal connections. The laboratory aims at the elucidation of the molecular and cellular bases of the development of the CNS. Themes include the biology of neural stem/progenitor cells and their niches, neuron-glia interactions and their regulatory functions for axon guidance, synapse formation and regeneration, and the stem cell biology of sensory systems and of glial tumors. Particular attention is devoted to glycoproteins, chondroitinsulfate proteoglycans and specialized glycans of the extracellular matrix and receptors such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), tyrosine phosphatases and downstream GTPases of the RhoA-family, and GEFs (e.g. Vav-proteins). These topics are studied using molecular and cell biological, immunological and biochemical tools, and genetically modified animal models. The far aim of this strategy is the application of knowledge gained by fundamental research to the field of regenerative medicine.