Laboratory of Neurotrophins and Laboratory of Clinical Neurobiology
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Group Leader
Prof. Dr. med. Rainer Hellweg
Managing senior physician, Head of research division Experimental Psychiatry and (Epi)Genomics
Research - Current Direction
Translational and Clinical Research
- Studies in human subjects on the role of neurotrophic factors (in particular "nerve growth factor" [NGF], "brain-derived neurotrophic factor"[BDNF], and "neurotrophin-3" [NT3]) in aging and neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory diseases, major psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, addiction)
- Serotonergic mechanisms in psychiatric disorders – Investigations in thrombocytes
- Central and peripheral serotonin transporters – in-vivo measurements in brain and ex-vivo measurements in thrombocytes
- Circadian rhythms and photobiology – Effects of light on melatonin secretion and wellbeing
- Poststroke depression
- Translational neuroimaging
Experimental Research
- Animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, stress models, Alzheimer's disease models) – neuroprotective mechanisms of NGF and BDNF, cellular plasticity and neurogenesis
- Depression in injury models (folate deficiency, stroke, chronic hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation)
- Antidepressants and neuroprotection
Selected Collaborations
- Molecular Biology of Peptide Hormones, Max-Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Berlin-Buch
- Psychiatric Animal Models, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim
- Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Berlin-Buch
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie und Abteilung für Experimentelle Neurologie, Charité CCM
- Medizinische Klinik m.S. Psychosomatik, Charité CCM
- Medizinische Klinik m.S. Kardiologie und Angiologie - Schlaftherapie, Charité CCM
- Genomics of Regeneration, Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden
- Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main