News
We are very happy to see the results of our latest research online at BioRXiv: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.22.604613v1. The visual code that can be achieved by targeting ON bipolar cells with optogenetic therapy is much richer as when targeting retinal ganglion cells! A great collaborative work led by our colleagues in Manchester!
Joint photo of groups from the Neurophysiology Department! Great colleagues gathering in front of the historic ruins of the Hospital of Elisabeth of Thuringia, right in the Institute's garden!
[News: We have launched our Interview Study on optogenetics:
OPTOVIEW - Click here to read more!]
Our research bridges the gap from basic biophysics to clinical medicine with a primary focus on optogenetic visual restoration. We are dedicated to understanding the functional capacity of optogenetic vision restoration, including the visual code generated by optogenetic interventions, the impact of these interventions on residual native vision, and the potential consequences of expressing optogenetic tools in the retina.
Another focus of our research is understanding how modulatory ion channel subunits regulate retinal signal processing and how dysfunction of such modulatory subunits leads to retinal disease. A Particularly exiting example is the silent voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kcnv2, that is expressed in rod and cone photoreceptors. Mutations in the Kcnv2 gene cause an inherited form of blindness termed Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Responses (CDSRR). We are trying to understand how and with which other ion channel subunits Kcnv2 interacts and how this may contribute to the increased susceptibility of cones in CDSRR. We hope that this will help us to identify novel approaches to treat this inherited retinal disorder.
We employ a wide range of methodologies, from in silico approaches and immunohistochemistry to ex-vivo and in-vivo electrophysiology. Our latest ventures also include the exploration of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated mRNA delivery to the retina, a promising alternative to traditional gene delivery methods. Importantly, we benefit from a number of inspiring collaborations with researchers from across the world.
We are always seeking highly motivated individuals to join us in our innovative research endeavors.
The Department of Medicine, research group on Physiology and Pathophysiology, Retinal Physiology, PI: Dr. Moritz Lindner, is currently accepting applications for a
Research Assistant in Visual Neuroscience (PhD student)
The position is available immediately and offered for a period of 3 years, if no former times of qualification must be considered. Salary and benefits offered commensurate to a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H E 13, 50 %).
At this year's annual congress of the German Society of Ophthalmology (DOG), two young scientists were honored as part of Bayer's German Ophthalmology Support Program for 2021 and 2022. From our lab, Sumit Biswas recieved the prestigious grant to investigate the use of lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA therapy for the treatment of retinal diseases. Congratuations!!!