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Researchers discover receptor for the protein fragment APPsα mediating its physiological function

A cleavage product of the Alzheimer's APP protein stimulates nerve cell communication and memory. The protein fragment, known as APPsα, has neuroprotective properties and acts as a signal molecule on other nerve cells. But how does it influence brain functions?

An international research team led by Prof. Dr Ulrike Müller of the IZN has gained new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying its physiological functions. Full article...

Photo: Max Richter, Müller research group
Neuroprotective role of APPsα: A histological section through the hippocampus is depicted in the background. The red staining shows APPsα in neuronal cell bodies. The green staining shows the dendritic processes of nerve cells.

EMBL scientists discover how a molecule’s role changes from simple metabolite to instructive signal

Among developmental biologists, the signalling molecule retinoic acid is well known for its role in building the vertebrate body. Not much is known, however, about how such signals emerge in evolution. To investigate this, the IZN's Arendt  lab at EMBL in Heidelberg has studied the role of retinoic acid signalling in a marine worm. In the study published in Science Advances , the team and its collaborators show that in the worm, retinoic acid acts like a metabolic timer that helps neurons to form at the right time and place during development.

Image: Mette Handberg-Thorsager/EMBL

IZN/Chica and Heinz Schaller Young Investigator Neuroscience Award

Call for Nominations for the 2018 Award

The IZN/Chica and Heinz Schaller Young Investigator Neuroscience Award is an annual prize offered by the Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation and is given in recognition of an outstanding first-author research publication in any aspect of neuroscience. Candidates must be current members of IZN research groups or have been members while the relevant work was performed. IZN group leaders are excluded unless the work was clearly done during their post-doctoral or PhD period at IZN. Self-nomination of candidates is encouraged.

Deadline for nominations is May 31, 2018 and the award winner will be notified middle of June 2018. The prize money of 1,000 € is to be used at the winner’s or winners’ discretion and may be divided between equally contributing first authors. The prize will be presented at an award ceremony during the annual IZN Retreat, July 01-02, 2018, at Kloster Schöntal, where the successful candidate will make a 10-minute presentation of his/her work.

Applications should include:

• CV
• Scientific justification (one page, single spaced, Arial 11)
• Summary of the significance of the work in lay terms (half a page, single spaced, Arial 11)
• Original paper published or accepted for publication in 2017 or before May 31, 2018

Please send your application by email or Dropbox to Prof.Dr. Ricarda Diem (ricarda.diem@med.uni-heidelberg.de) on behalf of the IZN Award Selection Committee.

Foundation BrainAid IZN Master’s Award

For the best Master’s Thesis in the Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences at Heidelberg University

Call for Nominations for the 2018 Award

The Foundation BrainAid IZN Master’s Award is an annual prize given in recognition of an outstanding Master’s Thesis in the Neurosciences. Candidates must be current members of IZN research groups or have been members while the relevant work was performed. Self-nomination of candidates is encouraged.

Deadline for self-nominations is May 31, 2018. The prize will be awarded during the annual IZN retreat, July 1-2, 2018, at Kloster Schöntal.

Applications should include:

• CV
• Scientific justification (one page, single spaced, Arial 11)
• Summary of the significance of the work in lay terms (half a page, single spaced, Arial 11)
• PDF of the Master Thesis completed in 2017 or before May 31, 2018

Please send your application by Email to the chair of the selection committee, Prof. Dr. Christoph Schuster (Schuster@nbio.uni-heidelberg.de).