Quantitative characterisation of brain malformations (A02)

• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology ; Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology ; Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460333672

A02 aims to quantitatively characterize the cellular and extracellular composition of human neocortical brain tissue, e.g., genetically defined focal cortical dysplasia and polymicrogyria. In addition, we will apply multimodal high-resolution MRI data of human brain malformations to identify biomarkers that correlate with our anatomo-pathological and molecular findings and visco-elastic features measured in brain tissue from the same patients (together with A01). Access to healthy (postmortem) and diseased (neurosurgical) human brain samples is the key feature of A02, and it complement the well-established animal models and cell cultures available in EBM.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1540: Exploring Brain Mechanics (EBM): Understanding, engineering and exploiting mechanical properties and signals in central nervous system development, physiology and pathology
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Ingmar Blümcke; Professor Dr. Arnd Dörfler; Professor Dr. Friedrich Paulsen