Research Projects

Abnormal post-translational modifications (PTMs) can lead to the aggregation of Tau proteins, which characterize a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. Some abnormal Tau proteins will be released into biological fluids, providing a chance for minimally- or non-invasive diagnosis. For Alzheimer's Disease (AD), site-specific...

Neurodegenerative disorders are an increasing healthcare problem. Many of these diseases are characterized by aggregation of proteins, which leads to neuronal dysregulation and cell death. Neurofibrillary tangles, pathological aggregates of tau protein, are the characteristic neuropathological stigmata defining a group of disorders termed...

Episodic memory is a core element of the human mind, but how experiencing an episode consolidates into long-term memory remains a central unsolved question in cognitive science. We will test the hypothesis that hippocampal-cortical dialogue (HCD) during sleep promotes memory consolidation, a hypothesis that has been largely beyond direct testing in...

Changes in sleep patterns are common among people with dementia, however why short (≤6hrs) or long sleep (≥9hrs) duration is less favorable for dementia, remains unknown. Given that approximately 46% & 44% of variability in sleep duration is explained by genetics, it is pertinent to consider genetic influences when understanding the mechanisms...

The objective of the application is the development and characterization of small molecule stabilizers of protein-protein interactions (“Molecular Glues”) as a novel class of biological tool compounds and potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, respectively. As biological targets we...

Stroke and dementia rank among the most pressing health issues in Europe. Cerebral small vessel diseases (SVDs) have emerged as a central link between these two major co-morbidities. SVDs account for more than 30% of strokes and at least 40% of dementia cases. They encounter multiple distinct diseases that can be separated based on their underlying...

Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC), also known as “childhood Alzheimer’s”, is a rare genetic disorder caused by the accumulation of cholesterol particularly in the brain with subsequent cognitive and mobility decline. In the EU NPC has an incidence of 1 per 100,000 people. Most cases are detected during childhood and progress to cause life...

The Hope” solution consists of an integrated, smart platform that enables the elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease to use innovative technology for a more independent life, easy access to information, monitor their health, which provides a basis for integrating services for the elderly population while they are at home.  HOPE is a self-operated...

The main objective of Many-Me is to offer patients in different stages of dementia a friendly and enjoyable environment supported by ICT solutions, empowering them to self-manage their condition by engaging and learning from people in a similar situation, make friends and attend support groups, test and adopt routines or techniques that help memory...

The role of social health in onset, disease course and prognosis of dementia remains underexplored. Social health has been conceptualized as the influence of social resources in finding a balance between capacities and limitations. Moreover, social health affects and is affected by biological processes that underlie the dementia syndrome. This...

Despite impressive advances in almost every field of neuroscience, our insights into brain function remain largely confined to its building blocks at the microscopic level, and to phenomenological descriptions at the macroscopic level. Understanding how complex mental functions originate from electrical and chemical processes in brain cells...

How neuronal circuits maintain the balance between stability and plasticity in a constantly changing environment remains one of the most fundamental questions in neuroscience. Empirical and theoretical studies suggest that homeostatic negative feedback mechanisms operate to stabilize the function of a system at a set point level of activity. While...