Stress-induced programming in serotonin (5-HT) system-modified mice: epigenetic editing as a strategy to cope with anxiety (A05)

• Subject Area: Biological Psychiatry
• Term: from 2008 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 44541416

The aim of the project is the investigation of the role of gene-by-environment interaction in the developmental programming of anxiety disorders the following research objectives: 1) Validation of epigenetically regulated risk and protective genes identified in serotonin transporter (5-Htt) x prenatal stress (PS) paradigm, 2) Investigation of in 1) validated candidate genes in a novel tryptophane hydroxylase (Tph2)-deficient mouse model of panic disorder. 3) Causality assessment and intervention using an in vivo gene- and site-specific epigenetic editing strategy, using e.g. myelin basic protein (Mbp), as a novel strategy to cope with anxiety.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 58: Fear, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Co-Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Heads: Daniel van den Hove, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Klaus-Peter Lesch; Professorin Dr. Angelika Schmitt-Böhrer