The Department of Experimental Neurology is devoted to translational neuroscience in the areas of cerebral blood flow regulation, brain damage by stroke and bacterial inflammation, as well as endogenous neuroprotection.
Through our close ties with the Department of Neurology we aim at providing a link between basic neuroscience and clinical neurology. More than half of our researchers have joint clinical appointments in the Dept. of Neurology. This enables us to bridge the gap from in vitro models to clinical trials. It is our mission
- to identify research issues relevant to the improvement of prevention, treatment and diagnosis of neurological disorders,
- to further our knowledge on these issues through basic research in vitro and in vivo, and
- to validate and translate to the patient bed the findings through investigator driven clinical studies
Cerebrovascular regulation
Using optical and magnetic resonance techniques we aim at understanding the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which the brain adapts local blood flow to metabolism with high temporal and spatial resolution. In addition, we are investigating the 'fingerprints' of physiological or pathophysiological processes in cerebral blood flow or hemoglobin oxygenation. These studies thereby provide the basis for modern non-invasive functional brain imaging methods, which utilize brain blood flow changes or oxygenation changes to map brain activity.
Stroke prevention, treatment, regeneration
In cell culture and in vivo models of stroke, as well as in clinical studies we are investigating the complex cascades of damage after focal cerebral ischemia (stroke). A particular focus is on endogenous mechanisms of protection (ischemic tolerance, preconditioning) and on delayed mechanisms of damage (inflammation, apoptosis). In addition, we study the interaction of the damaged brain with the peripheral immune system, and the consequences of this interaction for stroke outcome. It is our ultimate goal to devise novel strategies to improve the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of stroke.
Optical imaging
To study the function of the brain non-invasively we develop and employ optical technology. Light in the near infrared wavelength range penetrates biological tissues and can be used to measure blood flow and metabolism as well as pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation. Functional and molecular optical imaging have the potential to provide relatively simple and inexpensive devices for bedside monitoring of brain physiology and pathophysiology. Currently we are developing imaging devices for the combined surface mapping of brain blood flow and oxygenation, as well as a small animal optical tomographical brain imager.
The Department of Experimental Neurology with endowed Chair for Clinical Neuroscience was established in 1999 through generous support by the Hermann and Lilly Schilling Foundation. We receive additional funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, German Ministry of Science and Education (BMBF), German Israel Science Foundation, European Community, Wilhelm Sander Foundation, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, among others. The Department provides infrastructure for a number of independent research groups and collaborators, such as the Lichtenberg - Professorship (Volkswagen-Foundation). In Berlin we are embedded within the Charité Neuroscience Center (NWFZ), the Berlin Neuroimaging Center (BNIC), the DFG Sonderforschungsbereich 507, the technology transfer area 'Berlin Molecular Brain Imaging' (B/MBI) and the Berlin Molecular Imaging and Therapy (BEMIT) Network. At the national and international level we presently collaborate with groups in Boston, Copenhagen, Leuwen, Homburg, Memphis, Moscow, Zürich …
The cycle of translational research cannot be completed successfully without the participation of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology companies. Through contract research, counseling, and joint basic research as well as clinical projects we are therefore maintaining a strong interaction with the biomedical industry.
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