Research area F:
Plasticity

The long-term outcome following brain lesions depends on developmental, experience-dependent, and homeostatic plasticity. The strategy to understand common mechanisms and molecules for development and after a lesion will be an important and indispensable contribution of basic science to NeuroCure. Indeed, only recently, it has become apparent that transcription factors with a role in pattern formation during development are also involved in lesion-induced reorganization. Researchers of our consortium are conducting a systematic survey of the alterations in gene expression that occur in neurons following physiological and pathophysiological activity. We have identified several activity- and plasticity-regulated genes. We now aim to study the role of these genes in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Furthermore, we are planning to study synapse function during and after brain lesions following cerebrovascular diseases, neuroinflammation, and disorders of network formation. Unraveling the underlying mechanisms and identifying the involved signaling cascades will be instrumental for developing identification of therapies preventing abnormal network formation.