Cellular and Molecular Biology of Thalamus Development

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Steffen Scholpp
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 85358279

The human brain is an organ of extraordinary complexity. Weighing about three to four pounds and composed of over 100 billion interconnected brain cells (neurons), the brain controls every aspect of the human experience - thought, sensations, movement and emotions. Understanding how the brain develops, how brain cells differentiate to assume specialised functions and how neurons are directed to connect with different areas of the body are key goals in developmental neurobiology. These goals are not only intrinsically interesting, but also have great significance in understanding, and possibly treating, neurological disorders and CNS injury.We are interested in the development of the main relay station in the brain - the thalamus. To address the various aspects of thalamus development we use an interdisciplinary approach. We work at the interface between neurobiology and cell biology. Our technical repertoire includes analysis of complex cell migratory events by time-lapse approaches, spatial and temporal controlled genetic manipulations, in-vivo high-resolution imaging, primary cell culture methods combined with bio-surface chemistry, proteomics, sugar chemistry, and much more. These state-of-the-art techniques will allow us to elucidate the developmental program leading to the formation of the bridal chamber of the brain.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: confocal laserscanning microscope
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope