Project Details
Projekt
FZT 103: Molecular Physiology of the Brain
Subject Area
Medicine
Biology
Biology
Term
from 2002 to 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5485646
Research during the last decade has led to major advances in molecular, cellular and systems neurobiology. In particular, the recent description of the complete human genome has revolutionized research concepts in neuroscience and prepared the ground for comprehensive analyses of the physiology and pathophysiology of molecular reactions and interactions in nerve cells.
The scientific concept of the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain is based on the fact that such molecular processes are not only key features of basic cellular processes but also form the functional basis of brain development and of the complex characteristics of neuronal networks in the entire brain, both under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Consequently, the central aim of the Center is the detailed analysis of defined molecular processes and interactions in nerve cell function, a research focus we term Molecular Physiology, and the application of the corresponding knowledge to tackle the greatest challenge of modern neuroscience: The development of therapies for psychiatric, neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Research areas covered by the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain include
(1) the transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of physiologically and pathophysiologically relevant model organisms,
(2) the development of new biophysical methods to study molecular reactions and interactions within nerve cells and the application of these methods to the functional characterization of molecular reactions and protein-protein interactions in physiological and pathophysiological processes,
(3) the molecular and functional analysis of cell proliferation and differentiation during normal and aberrant brain development, and
(4) the analysis of the molecular pathophysiology of neurodegenerative processes and psychiatric dysfunctions, combined with the development of therapeutic approaches to neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. By synergistically combining these research areas, the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain integrates neuroscience research from molecules to therapeutic strategies and from bench to bedside. This programme was successful in the German government's Excellence Initiative and has been funded since November 2006 as DFG Research Centre 103/Cluster of Excellence 171.
The scientific concept of the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain is based on the fact that such molecular processes are not only key features of basic cellular processes but also form the functional basis of brain development and of the complex characteristics of neuronal networks in the entire brain, both under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Consequently, the central aim of the Center is the detailed analysis of defined molecular processes and interactions in nerve cell function, a research focus we term Molecular Physiology, and the application of the corresponding knowledge to tackle the greatest challenge of modern neuroscience: The development of therapies for psychiatric, neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Research areas covered by the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain include
(1) the transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of physiologically and pathophysiologically relevant model organisms,
(2) the development of new biophysical methods to study molecular reactions and interactions within nerve cells and the application of these methods to the functional characterization of molecular reactions and protein-protein interactions in physiological and pathophysiological processes,
(3) the molecular and functional analysis of cell proliferation and differentiation during normal and aberrant brain development, and
(4) the analysis of the molecular pathophysiology of neurodegenerative processes and psychiatric dysfunctions, combined with the development of therapeutic approaches to neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. By synergistically combining these research areas, the Center of Molecular Physiology of the Brain integrates neuroscience research from molecules to therapeutic strategies and from bench to bedside. This programme was successful in the German government's Excellence Initiative and has been funded since November 2006 as DFG Research Centre 103/Cluster of Excellence 171.
DFG Programme
DFG Research Centres
Projects
- Advanced studies in marmoset monkeys (Project Head Bähr, Matthias )
- Aggregation Disorders - Parkinson's Disease (Project Heads Braus, Gerhard H. ; Bähr, Matthias )
- Applied Neuroscience (Project Head Bähr, Matthias )
- Central Administration (Project Head Bähr, Matthias )
- Central Administration (Project Heads Bähr, Matthias ; Hell, Stefan W. )
- Central Budget (Project Head Richter, Diethelm Wolfgang )
- Central Facilities (Project Head Richter, Diethelm Wolfgang )
- From Network Dysfunction to Psychiatric Diseases (Project Heads Ehrenreich, Hannelore Maria ; Stühmer, Walter )
- From Neurogenesis to Synaptogenesis (Project Heads Pieler, Tomas ; Wodarz, Andreas )
- From Synaptopathies to System Dysfunction (Project Heads Müller, Michael ; Richter, Diethelm Wolfgang )
- Outstations (Project Head Richter, Diethelm Wolfgang )
- Platforms (Project Head Richter, Diethelm Wolfgang )
- Proteomics (Project Head Bähr, Matthias )
- Quantitative Molecular Microscopy (Project Heads Neher, Erwin ; Schild, Detlev )
- Viral Vectors (Project Head Bähr, Matthias )
Applicant Institution
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Spokespersons
Professor Dr. Matthias Bähr; Professor Stefan W. Hell; Professor Dr. Detlev Schild, until 9/2016
