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Research area C:
Regeneration

Following damage of the central nervous system (CNS), the brain has a limited capacity to regenerate. The ultimate goal of our research is to achieve brain repair, and thus to restore neurological function after injury or disease. Our efforts comprise the replacement of dysfunctional or lost neurons, the regeneration of nerve fibres, the replacement of myelin sheaths, and the promotion of functional plasticity. We will exploit the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells derived from bone marrow and brain as well as stem-cell-based gene therapy. Moreover we will also attempt to stimulate axon regeneration and synaptogenesis to replace degenerated fibers after insult. As regenerative processes are stongly age dependent and may also be affected by confounders prevalent in patient populations in special need of therapeutic neuroregeneration, we will also investigate the impact of these factors on regeneration. We hope to be able to improve brain repair by defining and exploiting the complex interactions between the nervous, immune, and hemangiopoietic systems after CNS injury or disease.