Research

Scientific research at the Institute of Neuropathology is focused on the study of the molecular pathogenesis of primary diseases of the nervous system. The research mainly concentrates on brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and prion diseases, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders. The primary objective is to identify novel approaches for improved diagnostics and therapy for these serious disorders, most of which, unfortunately, are still incurable. The Institute has the research laboratories required for the molecular biological, cell biological, protein chemical, immunohistological, and histomorphological research work that is needed to accomplish this objective. Laboratory facilities include gene laboratories of German safety classes S1, S2 and S3**, an isotope laboratory, a cell culture laboratory, and laboratories for molecular biological, immunohistological and electron microscopical work.

The research projects that are currently being pursued involve, among other things, the evaluation of novel techniques for the molecular diagnostics of brain tumors, the identification of molecular genetic changes in brain tumors in children and adults, the study of novel experimental approaches for the therapy of Alzheimer's disease and prion diseases, and the neurobiological changes in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Active research projects receive external funding from diverse third-party resources, such as the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid), the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry for Education and Research), the European Community, the Wilhelm Sander Foundation and others.