Division of Physiological Genomics
We study the nervous system and its development, with the aim of developing new therapeutic approaches to heal brain injuries.
Our research focuses on the physiology and pathophysiology of the nervous system and its development. In particular, we investigate the generation of nerve and glial cells, the formation of contact points between nerve cells, the so-called synapses, and the interaction between nerve and glial cells. We study the key mechanisms driving nerve cell formation, aiming to harness them for cell replacement therapies in cases of nerve cell loss. Equally crucial is understanding the specific roles that different glial cell types play in wound healing and scar formation, to enhance the restoration of normal function.
Our spectrum of methods ranges from classical physiological measurement procedures (e.g. extra- and intracellular electrophysiological measurements, immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry) to modern molecular and cell biological techniques (e.g. single cell and spatial sequencing; proteome and interactome analyses) and imaging techniques (e.g. fluorescence lifetime, two-photon and confocal microscopy, optogenetic stimulation and measurement methods) to then manipulate genes in a targeted manner using CRISPR technology and viral vectors. We conduct our research on cells in culture, on brain slices and in vivo. In cell culture, we work with induced pluripotent stem cells, which are differentiated into various cell types or organoids.
By studying the formation of nerve and glial cells during development, we aim to identify strategies to activate these processes in the adult brain following injury and stimulate the generation of new nerve cells in damaged tissue. Our current research focuses on the synaptic integration of newly formed nerve cells into existing neural networks and assessing their potential to functionally restore networks impaired by injury.
More information on the Physiological Genomics website.
Research Groups
Division Head
© J. Greune / LMU
Prof. Dr. Magdalena Goetz
Biomedical Center
Großhaderner Street 9
82152 Planegg-Martinsried