Report 2003-2008 Report 2003-2008 Editors: The Board of Directors Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN) University of Heidelberg Im Neuenheimer Feld 364 D-69120 Heidelberg www.izn.uni-heidelberg.de Concept, Coordination and Editorial Office: Dipl.-Biol. Ute Volbehr Susanne Kilian M.A. Cover illustration by Simon Wiegert, Neurobiology, IZN: Dr. Otto Bräunling Depth-coded maximum z-projection of hippocampal CA1- neurons expressing Dronpa-labelled ERK1. The colour-spectrum from violet to red was used to artificially colour-code the position Production and Layout: of neurons in z-direction. Rolf Nonnenmacher, Dipl. Designer (FH) Image Sources: Sven Weimann Images were provided by the IZN Investigators and the Heidelberg University Hospital Media Center, the University of Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Institute, Photolab/European Printed by: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim. CITY-DRUCK HEIDELBERG 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents Boards 5 Thomas Kuner 93 Siegfried Mense 96 Research groups / IZN-Investigators 6 Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg 99 Concept and strucure of the IZN 9 Hannah Monyer 101 Appointments 14 Ulrike Müller 104 Christof Niehrs 107 Awards 16 Sabina Pauen 110 IZN Funding and grant giving bodies 18 Gabriele Elisabeth Pollerberg 113 Gudrun Rappold 116 Guest scientists 19 André Rupp 119 Collaborations 21 Martin Schmelz 122 Research Groups 35 Gerhard Schratt 124 Detlev Arendt 36 Christoph Schuster 127 Hilmar Bading 39 Günther Schütz 130 Dusan Bartsch 42 Markus Schwaninger 134 Martin Bohus 45 Peter H. Seeburg 136 Francesca Ciccolini 48 Horst Simon 137 Andreas von Deimling 51 Thomas Söllner 140 Winfried Denk 54 Rainer Spanagel 143 Andreas Draguhn 55 Hartwig Spors 147 Uwe Ernsberger 58 Rolf Sprengel 150 Thomas Euler 61 Kerry Tucker 153 Christian Fiebach 64 Klaus Unsicker 156 Herta Flor 67 Wolfgang Wick 159 Stephan Frings 70 Otmar D. Wiestler 162 Peter Gass 73 Joachim Wittbrodt 164 Darren Gilmour 76 Gabriel Wittum 167 Thomas Holstein 78 Veit Witzemann 170 Stefan Kins 81 Teaching 173 Joachim Kirsch 84 Seminars and Symposia 201 Georg Köhr 87 Rohini Kuner 90 Map of Campus 232 3 4 Boards Boards Board of Directors Scientific Advisory Board Prof. Dr. Hilmar Bading (Acting Director) Prof. Dr. Adriano Aguzzi, MD, Zürich Prof. Dr. Winfried Denk Prof. Yehezkel Ben-Ari, MD, PhD, Marseille Prof. Dr. Andreas Draguhn Prof. Dr. Anders Björklund, Lund Prof. Dr. Herta Flor Prof. Dr. Magdalena Götz, München Prof. Dr. Stephan Frings Prof. Nathaniel Heintz, MD, PhD, New York Prof. Dr. Joachim Kirsch Prof. Dr. Arthur Konnerth, München PD Dr. Georg Köhr Prof. Mark P. Mattson, MD, PhD, Baltimore Prof. Dr. Hannah Monyer Prof. Dr. Hans-Christian Pape, Magdeburg Prof. Dr. Christof Niehrs Prof. Dr. Mart Saarma, Helsinki Dr. Gerhard Schratt Prof. Stephen G. Waxman, MD, PhD, New Haven Prof. Dr. Christoph Schuster Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaninger Prof. Dr. Klaus Unsicker Prof. Dr. Joachim Wittbrodt 5 Research groups / IZN Investigators IZN Investigators Department of Pharmacology University of Heidelberg Rohini Kuner Molecular mechanisms underlying chronic pain Faculty of Medicine Heidelberg Stefan Offermanns Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Cellular signaling Markus Schwaninger Uwe Ernsberger Gene regulation in cerebral ischemia Development of nerve cells and generation of neuro- nal diversity Department of Human Genetics Joachim Kirsch Molecular cell biology of synapses Gudrun Rappold Thomas Kuner Molecular pathogenesis of genetic disorders Structure and function of synapses Siegfried Mense Department of Neuropathology Neurobiological mechanisms of chronic muscle pain Andreas von Deimling Gerhard Schratt Molecular genetics of tumours of the central (CNS) and The role of microRNAs in synaptic development and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) plasticity Horst Simon Neurology Differentiation and survival of mesencephalic dopa- minergic neurons André Rupp Auditory evoked fields, auditory modelling, and psy- Kerry Tucker choacoustics Early events in neurogenesis and nerve development in the central and peripheral nervous systems Wolfgang Wick Biology and experimental therapy of malignant glioma Klaus Unsicker Faculty of Medicine Mannheim TGF-ß, FGF and neurotrophins in neural development and functions Anaesthesiology Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology Martin Schmelz Translational pain research Andreas Draguhn Functional analysis of cortical neuronal networks Faculty of Biosciences Ulrich Misgeld Plasticity of GABAA receptor mediated inhibition Centre for Biochemistry Thomas Söllner Molecular mechanisms mediating regulated exocytosis 6 Research groups / IZN Investigators Department of Neurobiology Thomas Holstein The origin of the metazoan nervous system and body Hilmar Bading plan Nuclear calcium signaling in the dialogue between Joachim Wittbrodt synapse and nucleus: Role in neuronal survival and Vertebrate retina development and differentiation memory Francesca Ciccolini Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies Proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells Institute for Psychology Christoph Schuster Mechanisms of experience-dependent synaptic plasti- Christian Fiebach city, learning and memory, and memory extinction Cognitive neuroscience: Neural mechanisms of higher cognitive functions Department of Clinical Neurobiology Sabina Pauen Early childhood brain and cognitive development Hannah Monyer Neuronal synchrony and plasticity Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science Andrei Rozov Mechanisms of short lasting synaptic plasticity Institute for Computer Science Gabriel Wittum Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology Computational neuroscience as part of the chair simula- tion in technology Ulrike Müller Functional genomics of neurodegenerative diseases¸ Alzheimer’s disease, physiological and pathological Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim function of APP family proteins Dusan Bartsch Centre for Molecular Biology Heidelberg Molecular and cellular basis of normal and pathologic cognition, learning and memory, and mental retardati- Stefan Kins on Alzheimer’s disease, APP function and transport Martin Bohus Pain perception, learning and memory, and treatment Department of Zoology development for patients with trauma-related disor- ders G. Elisabeth Pollerberg Herta Flor Growth and orientation of axons in the developing ner- Learning and neuronal plasticity vous system Peter Gass Stephan Frings Animal models of psychiatric disorders Signal transduction in sensory neurons Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Translational neurogenetics of psychiatric disorders 7 Research groups / IZN Investigators Rainer Spanagel European Molecular Biology Laboratory The neurobiology of drug abuse Detlev Arendt Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research The evolution of the animal central nervous system Darren Gilmour Winfried Denk The role of chemokine-mediated tissue migration in Structure of and activity in neuronal networks. generating mechanosensory organs in the zebrafish lateral line Thomas Euler Signal processing in the retina Georg Köhr Cross talk between excitatory and inhibitory synapses and ion channel and signalling function of NMDA receptors Peter Seeburg Fast excitatory neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity and learning Hartwig Spors Spatio-temporal patterns of neuronal activity in the healthy and diseased brain Rolf Sprengel The role of glutamate receptors in hippocampus media- ted learning, emotional behaviors and mood disorders Veit Witzemann Molecular anatomy of the developing neuromuscular junction German Cancer Research Center Christof Niehrs Molecular embryology Günther Schütz Molecular genetics of signal-dependent gene expres- sion Otmar D. Wiestler Molecular neuropathology of human brain tumors / surgical neuropathology of CNS tumors 8 Concept and Structure of the IZN 9 10 Introduction Concept and Mission of the IZN The Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN) was other research units both within and external to the Uni- founded in 2000 as a research network incorporating neu- versity of Heidelberg that collectively formed the IZN’s roscientists from all faculties and local research institutions ’ring‘ structure. in Heidelberg. Its mission is to enhance brain research, to At present, the IZN encompasses all research activities coordinate technology transfer and to improve graduate in the neurosciences in the Heidelberg/Mannheim area, and post-graduate education in the neurosciences. Origi- providing a forum for scientific exchange at all levels. Our nally consisting of three ’core’ institutes, including the weekly seminar series brings together junior and senior Departments of Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy, and Clini- scientists with diverse neuroscience backgrounds. Annual cal Neurobiology, the IZN has been joined by groups from retreats foster extensive communication and planning of the Departments of Physiology and Pathophysiology, common projects, and are complemented by regular, infor- Anatomy and Medical Cell Biology, as well as by various mal exchanges between group leaders and the IZN Board Scientic Advisory Board Acting Director Rectorate Board of Directors 11 Senior and 2 Junior IZN Administration IZN Investigators Faculty of Faculty of Faculty of Medical Medical Central Max-Planck German European Biosciences Mathematics Behavioral Faculty of Faculty of Institute for Institute Cancer Molecular and and Cultural Heidelberg Mannheim Mental for Medical Research Laboratory Computer Studies Health