WG Cell Signalling
Focus: Molecular mechanisms of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, human disease models, cell-based assay technologies, drug repurposing screening
Head: PD Dr. rer. nat. Michael Wehr
Description of Research
Psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s disease, arise from the interplay of multiple risk genes. A growing body of genetic and mechanistic evidence shows that many of these CNS disorders share convergent biological pathways, despite their diverse clinical presentations. However, the precise interplay of these risk genes and their effects on cellular function remain largely unknown.
Our lab investigates how disease-associated genes disrupt molecular mechanisms in human disease models using molecular, biochemical, and cell-biological approaches, complemented by mouse models. In particular, we examine how schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s risk genes alter signalling pathways and synaptic plasticity, and we use human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived disease models to define the signalling architecture underlying these states. We also develop cell-based assays for drug-repurposing screens to identify new therapeutic opportunities.
Current projects
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of selected mental disorder and neurodevelopmental risk genes in iPSC-derived human disease models
- Development of target-based and pathway-centric assays in living cells to identify genetic and chemical modulators of neuropsychiatric signalling pathways
Co-operations
- Prof. Dr. Evgeni Ponimaskin, Cellular Neurophysiology/OE 4230, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany - Ponimaskin.Evgeni@mh-hannover.de
- PD Dr. Joachim Kremerskothen, Department of Molecular Nephrology, University Hospital Münster, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany - https://www.medizin.uni-muenster.de/molekulare-nephrologie/forschung/joachim-kremerskothen.html
- Dr. Nils Gassen, Research Group Neurohomeostasis, University Hospital Bonn, Germany - https://www.ukbonn.de/42256BC8002AF3E7/direct/neurohomoeostase
- Prof. Dr. Francis McMahon, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, MD, USA - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/principal-investigators/francis-mcmahon.shtml
Team members
- Zhenke Li (PhD candidate, cand. med.) – email: zhenke@mnb-lab.de
- Yiyuan Liu (PhD candidate, cand. med.) – email: liu@mnb-lab.de
- Giulia Palladino (PhD candidate, cand. rer. nat.) – email: palladino@mnb-lab.de
- Rafael Patarra (PhD candidate, cand. rer. nat.) – email: patarra@mnb-lab.de
Alumni
- Mihail Georgiev (MD candidate, cand. med.)
- Isabelle von Hauff (MD candidate, cand. med.)
- Dr. hum. biol. Wenbo Ma
- Dr. hum. biol. Xiao Ma
- Fiona Mandausch (PhD candidate, cand. rer. nat.)
- Dr. rer. nat Luksa Popovic
- Sebastian Stolte (MD candidate, cand. med.)
- Dr. med. Madalina Wernigg (Hostiuc)
- Dr. rer. nat. Jan Wintgens
- Dr. hum. biol. Yuxin Wu
