GRK 736:  Development and Plasticity of the Nervous System: Molecular, Synaptic and Cellular Mechanisms

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: from 2001 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273357

The research training group offers highest-level interdisciplinary education in the neurosciences for doctoral students in Natural Sciences and Medicine. The topic of the programme is Developmental Neurobiology and research includes projects on neurogenesis, axonal and dendritic differentiation, stem cell differentiation, molecular analyses of pre- and postsynaptic differentiation and electrical coupling, synaptic plasticity, biology of ion channels, the role of neural cell surface molecules and of neurotrophic factors for cellular differentiation and signalling, lesion-induced plasticity, and analysis of neuron populations in animal models for neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, the collegiates receive methodological and conceptual training in a variety of modern techniques which are usually not included in the regular study programmes of the contributing faculties. Further, the programme includes the lecture "From Molecule to Cognition" delivered by the supervisors of the research training grouop and the "International Graduate School NRW for Neuroscience" reviewing all fields of neuroscience, seminars, and lectures by foreign speakers.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Petra Wahle
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Rolf Dermietzel; Professor Dr. Ulf Eysel; Professor Dr. Andreas Faissner; Professor Dr. Klaus Funke; Professor Dr. Hanns Hatt; Professor Dr. Rolf Heumann; Professor Dr. Michael Hollmann; Professor Dr. Hermann Lübbert; Professorin Dr. Denise Manahan-Vaughan; Professor Dr. Thomas Mittmann; Privatdozent Dr. Matthias Schmidt; Professor Dr. Christian H. Wetzel