Recruitments
To strengthen the neuroscience community in Berlin, NeuroCure spent a large proportion of its budget on appointing new professors and establishing junior research groups during the Excellence Initiative (2007-2018). Long-term funding is provided by the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and our participating non-university institutions of the Helmholtz Society and Leibniz Association.
Within the Excellence Strategy since 2019, the Cluster is continuing to recruit neuroscience talent to Berlin with a focus on establishing additional new junior research groups with our partner and cooperating institutions. For information on current calls, see Career.
New Junior Groups 2019-present:
Affiliation
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Research Focus
The Neuropsychiatry group focuses on understanding the neural basis of learning and cognitive functions, in particular in the context of one of the major risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders, early-life stress. We use large-scale electrophysiological recording techniques in rodent models of early-life stress to monitor neural activity in multiple brain areas while animals learn and perform behavioral tasks. Our aim is to elucidate how neural networks associated with learning and skills particularly relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as cognitive flexibility, are affected by adverse early life experiences. Methods to manipulate neural activity will help us link deficits and alterations with specific brain areas and cell types. We further aim to identify neural signatures that might contribute to the resilience or vulnerability to adverse early life experience of individual animals.
Affiliation
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC)
Research Focus
The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Behavior group is focused on understanding how genetic and environmental factors shape the molecular composition of neural circuits. We are particularly interested in the neural circuits associated with social and emotional behaviors. To study this, we combine behavioral neuroscience in mouse models with cell- and circuit-specific tools to investigate the molecular mechanisms influencing these behaviors. Our focus is to explore how these mechanisms are affected by social experiences and genetic background associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Affiliation
German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE)
Research Focus
The Neurocircuit Development and Function (NDF) group is engaged in understanding how neural circuits involved in the control of energy homeostasis develop and function within complex networks in the brain. Specifically, the team wants to understand how maternal nutrition and altered maternal metabolism can negatively impact the proper formation and function of these brain circuits, resulting in the potential for an earlier onset of brain-related diseases. This work is performed using rodent model systems to target the function of specific neuronal systems to better understand their role in metabolism and behavior.
Affiliation
Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)
Research Focus
The Synapse Biology group focuses on elucidating the contribution of synaptic proteins to neuronal function and plasticity, and on deciphering synaptic disease mechanisms in brain disorders. We combine genetic manipulations in mouse models with electrophysiological and cell-type-specific biochemical tools to study the molecular composition and organization of synapses, with the aim of understanding how these define synaptic function and dysfunction.
Affiliation
Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
Research Focus
The Computational Neurology group develops theory- and data-driven methods to better monitor, predict and prevent health deteriorations in epilepsy, intensive care and other neurology settings. Our approach utilizes multimodal time series data over the health-disease continuum, including wearables, in-hospital neuromonitoring, video and EEG. We are exploring the relevance of dynamical systems frameworks for system function in neurology, among them the critical brain hypothesis. Our work is motivated by a more quantitative, data-driven understanding of health and disease that will ultimately afford more proactive treatment options.
Affiliation
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU)
Research Focus
The Optobiology group combines biochemical, biophysical, molecular biological and bioinformatic methods with advanced imaging techniques to tackle questions dealing with different aspects of neuronal cell biology. Current projects explore roles of the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton as well as intracellular organelle trafficking in controlling the formation, stability and plasticity of synaptic contacts in health and disease.
Affiliation
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
Research Focus
The Cellular Circuits of Memory group is focused on understanding how neuronal circuits in the hippocampal-associated brain regions are altered in normal aging as well as in memory pathologies. We use electrophysiological methods to investigate brain oscillations and single cell activity in animals while they perform different behavioral tasks. Taking advantage of transgenic mouse lines and genetic manipulations with viral vectors we try to understand how different cell types are involved in the formation of short and long-lasting memories. Our work is aimed at identifying altered neuronal circuits with the potential for manipulation in order to ameliorate or restore memory impairments in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Affiliation
Neuroscience Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Research Focus
The Subcellular Optogenetics group focuses on the molecular mechanisms and characterization of channelrhodopsins and their optogenetic applications. We use light-activated ion transporters and genetically encoded sensors to control subcellular changes in pH, voltage and ion concentration by light with a specific interest in pH regulation of the endo-lysosomal and secretory pathway. Studying the molecular mechanisms of new classes of light-activated ion channels and rhodopsin-ion channel complexes, we develop new tools for multicolor optogenetics with peak absorptions from UV- to infra-red light.