NEUROTRAIN ::: PROFILE ::: TUEBINGEN

HOST ORGANISATION I
EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITY TUEBINGEN, GERMANY

The Research Team at the Eberhard Karls University in Tuebingen consists of three senior scientists and a Managing Coordinator of the proposal:

• Prof. Thomas GASSER
  [Director of the Section Neurodegeneration, Hertie-Institute of Clinical Brain Research, Tuebingen]
• Prof. Olaf RIESS
  [Director Institute of Human Genetics, Tuebingen]
• Dr. Bernd WISSINGER
  [Head of the Molecular Genetic Laboratory, University Eye Hospital Tuebingen]
• Dr. Thomas H. WHEELER-SCHILLING
  [Head Research Management Unit, University Eye Hospital Tuebingen; CEO European Vision Institute, Brussels]

The University of Tubingen and its Medical Faculty have a long tradition of excellence in the Neurosciences. The two clinical departments involved in the EST-programme have a particular research focus in the molecular analysis of neurodegenerative disorders, and their research output has been repeatedly ranked among the best in Germany. In fact, in the field of Parkinsons disease and degenerative eye diseases it is among the leading centres in Europe. Since 2001 this research focus has been strengthened by Prof. Riess, chair of the Department of Medical Genetics, who also focuses on neurodegenerative diseases. In 2003, with substantial support of the charitable Hertie-Foundation, the Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research further added to this research focus.

A growing number of collaborations and funded projects between these departments provide an excellent background for EST. Incomplete list of examples: Prof. Riess and Prof. Gasser both lead closely collaborating subprojects within the German National Genome Network, focussing on the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease, and also within the federally funded National Network on Rare Diseases, with a focus on spastic paraplegias, HD, ataxias, and dystonias. The Departments of Medical Genetics and of Neurodegenerative Diseases also collaborate closely within the EU-funded Network EUROSCA, which is coordinated by Department of Medical Genetics, and in the German Competence Network Parkinson disease. Most importantly, these and other research groups on Parkinsons disease and on spinocerebellar ataxias do meet biweekly to discuss the progress in the research projects of the individual students. Sophisticated equipment of one department is used by all members of the groups. Furthermore, two service facilities, a transgenic facility and the microarray facility, belong to the Department of Medical Genetics which provide service for the Medical Faculty, but in particular for neurodegenerative projects. Expertise: The cooperation between the Dept. of Medical Genetics and the Dept. of Neurodegenerative diseases allow the in depth analysis of neurodegenerative disorders by complementary and closely interacting techniques. Clinical characterisation of families and cohorts, gene mapping and sequencing, positional cloning and genotype-phenotype analysis in the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases is complemented by advanced molecular biology, transgenic animal models and transcriptome studies in the Dept. of Medical Genetics. Relevant international collaborations: Prof. Gasser and Prof. Wood (London) have a longstanding collaboration in the European Consortium on Genetic Susceptibiity in PD (GSPD), documented by many common publications. Prof. Riess and Prof. Wood are both members of EUROSCA.

In addition to the collaborative efforts studying brain diseases, tight bonds exist to study similarities of degenerative brain and eye diseases. Each of the groups promotes this interaction with his specific expertise. For instance, an interdisciplinary research group headed by Prof. Wissinger between the Eye Clinic and the Department of Medical Genetics has been positively evaluated by the German Research Foundation. The Department of Medical Genetics is particularly supporting the efforts of the eye clinic to generate transgenic animals of retina degeneration and to study expression networks of the eye. Also, both institutions have a joint molecular genetics laboratory providing genetic testing service. The Molecular Genetics Laboratory of the eye clinic has long lasting cooperation’s with: Valerio Carelli (University of Bologna) on Genetics of Optic Neuropathies, Mechanisms of RGC degeneration; Marius Ueffing (GSF Munich) on Mitochondrial Disorders, OPA1 Function and Eugen Gramer (University of Würzburg) on the Recruitment of glaucoma patients. In addition, the European Research Training Network (‘RETNET’), coordinated in Tuebingen, interlinks eight high-ranking research groups on the topic of retinal degenerations.

In addition to the training programme designed for the EST, there are numerous training and educational opportunities for the ESR, which provide an excellent infrastructure. Students and post-docs present their results in regular lab meetings. Journal clubs help to keep up-to date with the literature. Several seminar series in the Neuroscience Center, including the local Max Planck Institutes and several Institutions at the university are being held with internationally recognized speakers. The International Graduate School for Neural and Behavioral Sciences in Tübingen provides additional educational opportunities. All members of the Tuebinger Host organisation of NEUROTRAIN are actively involved in teaching at the Graduate School which is being held in English, and are highly experienced in graduate and postgraduate teaching programmes.

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