Research focus

Neurobiology chronic mental diseases like schizphrenia and the affective disorders. Identification of molecular markers in these diseases through identification of misfolded proteins and atypical cell death markers and generation of suitable transgenic animal models.

Mechanisms of regulation of biological function through conformational heterogeneity of proteins, exemplified but not restricted to the prion protein. Pharmacological manipulation of conformational states of proteins, particularly in Alzheimer disease and the prion diseases involving conformation-specific ligands.

General mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuronal aging. Neurodegenerative diseases as conformational and protein-agggregation diseases. (Patho)physiology of protein aggregates and protein conformers.