Group Leader
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Albrecht Stroh
Head of Research Group Resilient Networks
Head of the Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)
Speaker, Initative for Systems Analysis in Neuroscience (ISyN)
Institute of Pathophysiology
University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 06131 39-21347
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: albrecht.stroh@unimedizin-mainz.de
Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) gGmbH
Wallstrasse 7
55122 Mainz, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)6131 89448-77
E-Mail: albrecht.stroh@lir-mainz.de
Team
Dr. Roberta Guimaraes Backhaus
Lab Manager
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: roberta.guimaraes-backhaus@lir-mainz.de
Education:
- Doctorate in Biophysics/Neurosciences, Neurogenesis Laboratory and Neurochemistry Laboratory Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Master degree in Biophysics/Neuroscience, Neurogenesis Laboratory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Bachelor degree in Biomedicine - Biomedical Centro Universitário Barão de Mauá, CBM, Ribeirao Preto - SP, Brazil
Dirk Cleppien, PhD
Head of the MR Unit of the Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: dirk.cleppien@lir-mainz.de
Education:
- Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) in Physics at the University of Mainz
- Diploma in Physics at the University of Mainz
Former scientific positions
- RG Translational Imaging, Department of NeuroImaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Brain Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- RG Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Scientific Interests
For brain research magnetic resonance tomography is one of the promising techniques investigating the influence of a cellular network to macroscale. For this, multimodal experimental setups have to be conducted. My research focus is to combine methods of magnetic resonance with other promising techniques like laser spectroscopy creating new insights into the living brain.
Hendrik Backhaus, PhD student
Head of the 2-Photon Microscopy Unit of the Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: hendrik.backhaus@lir-mainz.de
Education:
- Applied Physics (MSc), Hochschule RheinMain
- Physikalische Technik (BSc), Hochschule RheinMain
Scientific Interests
My main research interest is to determine the impact of distinct cortical processing to individual behavior by combining optical/optogenetic approaches, mainly two-photon and high-speed calcium imaging, with virtual reality systems. With a background in applied physics I especially focus on the development of new technological methods to achieve promising approaches to unravel the different underlying processes in the brain.
Post Docs
Ting Fu, PhD
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: ting.fu@unimedizin-mainz.de
Education:
- PhD, molecular biology, at Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg. Thesis: In vivo and in vitro studies on the expression and function of TFF peptides in the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system
- Master of Engineering, biomedical engineering, at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg & Fachhochschule Anhalt
- Bachelor of Engineering, pharmacy engineering, at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
Scientific Interests
Brain state changes along a continuum, the synchronized so called up-down state and desynchronized so called persistent state are the two predominant identified modes. Slow oscillations on population level in the brain are associated with up- down state transitions in individual cortical neurons. The main aim of my study is to investigate how these two brain states impact spontaneous activity in the cortical microcircuit. Furthermore to explore the brain-state dependence of local excitability and connectivity. Fluorometric Ca2+ recordings of neural activity represent a reliable method of recording slow-wave-associated Ca2+ transients. Combined optogenetic stimulation and optical recordings provide an approach to monitor and initiate slow wave activity, a local and specific interrogation of neuronal circuitry. The ability to individually target multiple neurons concurrently with patterned photostimulation is crucial for generating and manipulating natural patterns of activity in vivo. Now by implementing an all-optical-physiology approach, providing simultaneous two-photon imaging and patterned optogenetic stimulation, I can investigate causal features of the generation of slow oscillation-associated Ca2+ waves in the in vivo mouse brain.
Wei Fan, PhD
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: wei.fan@lir-mainz.de
Education:
- PhD, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Master’s of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
- Research assistant, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Bachelor’s of Science, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
Former scientific positions
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
Scientific Interests
For brain research magnetic resonance tomography is one of the promising techniques investigating the influence of a cellular network to macroscale. For this, multimodal experimental setups have to be conducted. My research focus is to combine methods of magnetic resonance with other promising techniques like laser spectroscopy creating new insights into the living brain.
PhD Students
Saleh Altahini
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: saleh.altahini@lir-mainz.de
Education:
- Human Medicin (Staatsexamen), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Elena Andres
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: elandres@uni-mainz.de
Education:
- Brain and Behavioral Sciences (M.Sc.), Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Biomedical Sciences (B.Sc.), Philipps University of Marburg
Scientific Interests
The ability to extinguish fear protects against the development of exaggerated and generalized fears. The aim of my project is to develop an extinction model in rodents that leads to better understanding of the role played by the dopamine system in memory consolidation after fear reduction. More precisely, I investigate the consolidation-related fMRI signatures and their influence on long-term reduction of fear. Furthermore, I focus on the role of spontaneous neural activity in the IL and its modulation by dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area.
Kira Engeroff
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: kira.engeroff@unimedizin-mainz.de
Education:
- Biology (B.Sc., M.Sc.) Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz
Scientific Interests
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model for multiple sclerosis. In EAE, neuronal hyperactivity was disvovered during the remission phase of the disease. The aim of my project is to understand better the consequences of this malfunction and to find ways to rebalance the cortical network.
Merve Ilhan
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: Merve.Ilhan@lir-mainz.de
Education:
I studied psychology at the University of Mainz. For my master thesis I conducted a study on dopaminergic enhancement of extinction memory consolidation at the Neuroimaging Center in Mainz.
Scientific Interests
Currently I am working on a translational project. I am interested in exploring the neural basis of slow wave resting-state fMRI connectivity networks in humans and their possible linkage to resilience as well as neurodegenerative diseases.
Julian Merz
Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: julian.merz@lir-mainz.de
Education:
I recieved my master’s degree in anthropology with a focus on human genetics at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. For this, I investigated the stress-induced regulation of hippocampal and prefrontal microRNAs and the influence of antidepressants on their expression pattern in mice.
Scientific Interests
I am currently studying the effect of chronic sensory stimulation (a excessive exposure of light and sound) on the regulation of cortical and subcortical micronetworks, as well as its epigentic basis.
Alumni
Eduardo Rosales, PhD
Hirofumi Watari, PhD
Andrea Kronfeld
Gautam Pramanik
Miriam Schwalm, PhD
Georg Passhuber, PhD
Isabelle Arnoux, PhD
Michaela Moisch
Nico Bürger
Consuelo Fois
Pierre-Hugues Prouvot
Paul Kaplic
Felipe Aedo-Jury
Jan Döring
Katja Rohde
Nicolas Ruffini
