OTTO-VON-GUERICKE-UNIVERSITÄT MAGDEBURG
Medizinische Fakultät
 GRADUIERTENKOLLEG
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"Biological basis of central nervous system diseases"
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Sprecher: Prof. Dr. Georg Reiser
email: georg.reiser@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de

The Graduiertenkolleg 'Biological basis of central nervous system diseases' is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft as a graduate program run by researchers from the University and the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology.
It was founded in 1996 at the Medical Faculty of the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg. An important part of its philosophy is an educational program which is aimed to bridge the gap between clinical amd basic research in the neurosciences. Moreover, the Kolleg provides excellent research opportunities for young investigators at the postgraduate level with a background and interest in biomedical research related to all aspects of brain disorders. The broad spectrum of research topics is reflected in an integrative research program combining state of the art technology with interdisciplinary educational programs. The program leads to a Ph.D. or M.D. degree and qualifies successful individuals for a carreer track in all fields of brain research and moreover all aspects of life sciences.
Magdeburg has rapidly evolved to one of the neuroscience centers in Germany in the last few years. Several groups have established a vigorous research program which has attracted extramural funding and provides superb research facilities. Apart from the Medical Faculty and the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, researchers from the Departments of Pschology, Engeneering and Chemistry contribute to Magdeburg`s interdisciplinary neuroscience profile. As a consequence of these joint efforts the Otto-von-Guericke University will establish in fall 1999 a new study program in neuroscience leading to a Diploma or Master of Science degree.



 
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The Graduiertenkolleg "Biological Basis of Central Nervous System Diseases" funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, is a graduate program at the Medical Faculty of the University of Magdeburg for PhD and MD students. We invite immediate applications for up to three years for

 
13 GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS (PhD or MD), 1 POSTDOCTORAL STIPEND
from April 1999.
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Graduate applicants should not be over 28 and have a first degree in subjects like biology, biochemistry, chemistry, medicine or psychology.
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Applications indicating the preferred research project(s) to:
Prof. Dr. Georg Reiser, University of Magdeburg, Institute of Neurobiochemistry
Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Fax (49) - 0391 67-13097
georg.reiser@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de

 


TOPICS: (Details see below)

MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY:
Immunosuppressive mechanisms following brain injury
"Synaptic tagging", LTP, learning/memory
Ca2+ sources in hypoxia-induced neuronal cell death
Microglial Ca2+ and Alzheimer beta-amyloid peptide
Opioid receptor and mechanisms of opioid tolerance
Neuronal Ca2+ sensor proteins in apoptosis
Synaptic Ca2+ binding protein caldendrin

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY:
GABAergic thalamic mechanisms in vitro (Postdoc)
Single cell activity in learning animals
Chochlea implant and auditory cortex stimulation

MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGY:
Computer-aided training of patients with brain damage
Transition zones in visual fields and event related potentials

NEUROHISTOLOGY AND ANATOMY:
Immunohistochemical studies on human brain
Neurotrophin action and rat hippocampus
 


 
RESEARCH PROJECTS
and
SUPERVISORS
Supervisor/ PI  
Department		 PROJECT  
Methods 
Aims
Prof. Dr. S. Ansorge 
Institute of Experimental Internal Medicine 
Medical Faculty 		 The role of alpha-MSH in neurotrauma induced immunosuppression 
Methods:
ELISA, antibody generation, primary cultures of immune cells 
Aims:
Focus of the study is a putative anti-inflammatory action of alpha-MSH on cytokine mediated secondary neurodegeneration in neurotrauma.
Prof. Dr. B. Bogerts
Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine 
Medical Faculty		 Hypothalamic peptides and nitric-oxid synthase in human affective  isorders
Methods:
computer- assisted morphometry, immunocytochemistry 
Aims:
The hypothesis that hyperthyreoism accompanies depressive disorders will be tested in human postmortem brain sections.
PD Dr. U. Frey 
Department of Neurophysiology 
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology		 "Synaptic tagging" in memory disorders of the aged brain
Methods:
in vivo and in vitro LTP, behavioral testing 
Aims:
It is intended to clarify which impact the cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus has on "synaptic tagging" and LTP maintenance in  young and senile rats.
Prof. Dr. E.D. Gundelfinger
Department of Neurochemistry / Molecular Biology 
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology		 Involvement of neuronal calciumsensor proteins in neurodegenerative diseases
Methods:
cell culture, biochemical and molecular assays, immunocytochemistry, heterologous expression 
Aims:
It will be investigated by which mechanisms neuronal calciumsensor proteins affect neuronal cell death and whether such mechanisms are involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
Prof. Dr. H.J. Heinze 
Clinic for Neurophysiology 
Medical Faculty		 Restitution of attention performance in brain damaged patients
Methods:
computer-assisted training, EEG, MEG, fMRI 
Aims:
Electrophysiological and metabolic correlates for the selection of perceptual information that will be stored in working memory will be identified.
Prof. Dr. V. Höllt 
Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology 
Medical Faculty		 Opioid receptor mutations in humans / Molecular mechanisms of opioid  tolerance 
Methods:
Molecular and biochemical assays, cell culture, animal models, heterologous  expression systems 
Aims:
The influence of polymorphisms in human opioid receptors on addictive behavior as well as the correlation between phosphorylation of opioid receptors and the development of opioid tolerance will be investigated.
Dr. M.R. Kreutz 
Department of Neurochemistry / Molecular Biology, 
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology		 Functional characterization of the neuronal calcium-binding protein  caldendrin
Methods:
Molecular and biochemical assays, site specific mutagenesis, cell culture 
Aims:
Genomic analysis of the caldendrin gene and analysis of protein-protein interactions of caldendrin will be performed.
Prof. Dr. H.C. Pape 
Institute for Physiology 
Medical Faculty		 GABAergic mechanisms of thalamic absence epilepsy
Methods:
thalamic slice preparations, patch clamp, chloride-imaging 
Aims:
The role fo GABAc receptors and somato-dendritic transmembrane chloride gradients the generation of thalamic epileptiform activity will be investigated.
Prof. Dr. G. Reiser
Institute for Neurobiochemistry 
Medical Faculty		 Modulation of  Ca2+-homeostasis by beta-amyloid protein in glial cells
Methods:
primary cell culture, single cell Ca2+-imaging,  Fura-2 fluorometry 
Aims:
The function of immune cells in the brain is studied by testing whether beta-amyloid protein  has a direct impact on intracellular calcium in microglia cells and cell survival.
Prof. Dr. K. Reymann 
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology / FAN-Institute		 Synaptinc plasticity in single neurons of learning animals
Methods:
single unit recording in freely moving rats during learning, induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in limbic cortex; 
Aims:
We investigate the correlation of LTP-capability of cortical neurons with their involvement in learning plasticity and different steps of food-reinforced operant behaviour.
Prof. Dr. B.A. Sabel 
Institute for Medical Psychology 
Medical Faculty		 Determination of transition zones in patients with visual deficits
Methods:
Event-related potentials, perimetry, neuropsychological testing 
Aims:
A diagnitic tool for the evaluation of visual transition zones on the basis of electrophsiological parameter will be developed.
Prof. Dr. H. Scheich / 
Prof. Dr. H. von Specht 
Department of Acoustics, Learning and Language, 
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology / 
Division of Experimental Audiology and Medical Physics 
Medical Faculty 		 Cochlea implants and reorganization plasticity in the auditory cortex
Methods:
Evoked potentials, auditory discrimination learning, fMRI 
Aims:
The studies optimize auditory stimulation patterns and language coding strategies in the auditory cortex on the search for cortical plasticity mechanisms in deafs.
Prof. Dr. H. Schwegler 
Institute for Anatomy 
Medical Faculty		 Hormone and neurotrophin actions during septal/hippocampal  development
Methods:
ELISA, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry 
Aims:
Experiments should evaluate the influence of corticosterone on cytoarchitecture and neurotrophin expression in the developing septo-hippocampal systems.