Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research

Mission Statement

Our research focuses on basic molecular mechanisms, biomarker discovery and new treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases with special emphasis on α-synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). We investigate the role of oligomeric α-synuclein to trigger disease-specific phenotypes, the effects of exogenous stress factors and epigenetic modulation in models of α-synucleinopathy, the involvement of glial cells in PD and MSA, and the neuroinflammatory mechanisms associated with α-synuclein pathology. Through preclinical screening and target validation for disease modification, we aim to provide rationale for clinical trials in PD and MSA.

Team

 

Univ.-Prof. Nadia Stefanova MD, PhD, DSc
Head of Laboratory

 

Antonio Heras-Garvin PhD
PostDoc

 

Magdalena Matic MSc
PhD Student

 

Sarah Wilhelmer MSc
PhD Student

 

Martina Wick MSc
Technical assistant

 

Leonard Rappold BSc
MSc student

 

Luna Vega
BSc Student

 

Jule Schoe
BSc Student

 Former members

Alain Ndayisaba MD, PhD, Jankat Özden, MD, Leonard Rappold BSc, Maria Luque PhD, Elena Klippel MD, Julia Bachmann BSc; Ratchaniporn Kongsui PhD; Isabella Rathgeb BSc; Miguel Lemos PhD; Patrick Bachmann cand. MD; Katrin Juliana Vouk BSc; Katja Malfertheiner BSc; Lisa Fellner PhD; Claudio Schmidt MSc; Violetta Refolo PhD; Tamina Weiss BSc; Marcos Herrera-Vaquero PhD; Lorenz Härtner PhD; Serena Venezia PhD; Martin Kallab MD; Edith Sturm PhD; Karin Spiss; Christine Kaindlstorfer MD PhD; Florian Krismer MD PhD; Daniela Kuzdas-Wood PhD; Dominik Brück MSc; Michael Lohmüller BSc; Christine Mantinger MD; Patrick Sommer MD; Melanie Premstaller MD; Philipp Hockl MD; Monika Hainzer; Yuntao Li MD; Sonya Neto PhD; Sylvia Stemberger PhD; Philipp Fuchs MD; Julia Kuen MD; Ankit Gupta; Undine Hauser MD; Lucas Mangard MD; Violeta Staeva MD; Harald Granbichler; Laura Mantoan MD; Monika Mitschnigg MD; Theron Sather MD; Sonja Scholz MD; Zoe Puschban MD; Christoph Scherfler MD

Publications