GRK 246:  Pathogenesis of Diseases of the Central Nervous System

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine ; Medicine
• Term: from 1996 to 2004
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271193

The central nervous system is the most complicated organ of the human body. The diseases of the nervous system the majority of which are only poorly understood are subject of the biomedical research of the program. For this purpose methods from genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, neuropathology, neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, biometry, and psychiatry are applied. The following diseases are included in the projects of the program: temporal lobe epilepsy, manic-depressive illness, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, spinal muscular atrophy, lysosomal storage diseases. In addition, basic science methods are applied to cell cultures and other in-vitro systems that may be applicable to the study of CNS diseases. The students should learn to understand which mechanisms are responsible for CNS diseases and how their etiology and pathogenesis can be examined. In addition to the methods that the students apply in their own groups they should also understand methods from other groups. In practical courses the students teach one another to apply these methods. In regular seminars both professors and students present new research findings, concepts, and theories. A special element of the program is that both medical students who are in the second phaseof their clinical education and students of natural sciences are members of the program. The medical students have to interrupt their university education for one year in order to work in the laboratory. Aftwards, they complete their research work while continuing their medical education.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Propping (†)
• Participating Researchers: Privatdozent Dr. Martin Barann (†); Professor Dr. Max Peter Baur; Professor Dr. Heinz Bönisch; Professor Dr. Christian E. Elger; Professor Dr. Manfred Göthert (†); Professorin Dr. Marcella Rietschel; Professor Dr. Konrad Sandhoff; Professor Dr. Karl Schilling; Professor Dr. Eberhard Schlicker; Professorin Dr. Brigitte Schmitz; Professor Dr. Johannes Schramm; Professor Dr. Dieter Swandulla; Professor Dr. Bernd W. Urban; Professor Dr. Thomas F. Wienker; Professor Dr. Otmar Dieter Wiestler; Professor Dr. Klaus Willecke; Professorin Dr. Brunhilde Wirth