1_Events

The MBExC will present 12 lectures during the Ringvorlesung in the winter semester 2023/2024 for the public. They will be held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm in the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz, professionally recorded and later be published via the Youtube channel of the University of Göttingen. The lectures are usually held in German. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Program of the MBExC Ringvorlesung “Herz und Gehirn gemeinsam im Fokus”:

7 November 2023: Tobias Moser “Wie Hören funktioniert und in der Zukunft wieder hergestellt werden kann” (Moderation: Claudia Steinem)

14 November 2023: Claudia Steinem “Herz und Hirn: Welche Rolle spielt Calcium?” (Moderation: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann)

21 November 2023: André Fischer  “Epigenetik und Gesundheit: Wie wir unsere Gene beeinflussen können!” (Moderation: Melina Schuh) findet im Adam-Von-Trott Saal (Alte Mensa) statt

28 November 2023: Silvio Rizzoli “Die extrazelluläre Matrix: lebenswichtiger, aber kaum verstandener Bestandteil des Herzens und des Gehirns“ (Moderation: André Fischer)

5 December 2023: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann  “Herzpflaster: Hilfe für ein schwaches Herz” (Moderation: Viola Priesemann)

12 December 2023: Melina Schuh “Von der Erforschung der Eizelle bis zum Kinderwunsch“ (Moderation: Jan Huisken)

19 December 2023: Valentin Nägerl “Nanokosmos im Gehirn: Dynamik und Mechanismen der Neuroplastizität“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

9 January 2024: Tim Salditt “Herz und Hirn im Röntgenblick: dreidimensionale Darstellung der Zytoarchitektur“ (Moderation: Axel Munk)

16 January 2024: Rubén Fernández Busnadiego “New electron microscopy technologies to decipher the secrets of neurons“ (Moderation: Silvio Rizzoli)

23 January 2024: Niels Voigt “Herzbeben – Wenn das Herz außer Takt gerät…“ (Moderation: Jutta Gärtner)

30 January 2024: Viola Priesemann “Lernen in Lebenden Netzwerken“ (Moderation: Claudia Steinem )

6 February 2024: Jan Huisken “Ein Flamingo geht auf Reisen: Mit dem Lichtblattmikroskop biologische Entwicklungsprozesse entschlüsseln“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

Please also visit the website of the University of Göttingen: Öffentliche Ringvorlesung

For further information please contact: heike.conrad[at]med.uni-goettingen.de

The MBExC will present 12 lectures during the Ringvorlesung in the winter semester 2023/2024 for the public. They will be held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm in the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz, professionally recorded and later be published via the Youtube channel of the University of Göttingen. The lectures are usually held in German. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Program of the MBExC Ringvorlesung “Herz und Gehirn gemeinsam im Fokus”:

7 November 2023: Tobias Moser “Wie Hören funktioniert und in der Zukunft wieder hergestellt werden kann” (Moderation: Claudia Steinem)

14 November 2023: Claudia Steinem “Herz und Hirn: Welche Rolle spielt Calcium?” (Moderation: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann)

21 November 2023: André Fischer  “Epigenetik und Gesundheit: Wie wir unsere Gene beeinflussen können!” (Moderation: Melina Schuh) findet im Adam-Von-Trott Saal (Alte Mensa) statt

28 November 2023: Silvio Rizzoli “Die extrazelluläre Matrix: lebenswichtiger, aber kaum verstandener Bestandteil des Herzens und des Gehirns“ (Moderation: André Fischer)

5 December 2023: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann  “Herzpflaster: Hilfe für ein schwaches Herz” (Moderation: Viola Priesemann)

12 December 2023: Melina Schuh “Von der Erforschung der Eizelle bis zum Kinderwunsch“ (Moderation: Jan Huisken)

19 December 2023: Valentin Nägerl “Nanokosmos im Gehirn: Dynamik und Mechanismen der Neuroplastizität“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

9 January 2024: Tim Salditt “Herz und Hirn im Röntgenblick: dreidimensionale Darstellung der Zytoarchitektur“ (Moderation: Axel Munk)

16 January 2024: Rubén Fernández Busnadiego “New electron microscopy technologies to decipher the secrets of neurons“ (Moderation: Silvio Rizzoli)

23 January 2024: Niels Voigt “Herzbeben – Wenn das Herz außer Takt gerät…“ (Moderation: Jutta Gärtner)

30 January 2024: Viola Priesemann “Lernen in Lebenden Netzwerken“ (Moderation: Claudia Steinem )

6 February 2024: Jan Huisken “Ein Flamingo geht auf Reisen: Mit dem Lichtblattmikroskop biologische Entwicklungsprozesse entschlüsseln“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

Please also visit the website of the University of Göttingen: Öffentliche Ringvorlesung

For further information please contact: heike.conrad[at]med.uni-goettingen.de

The MBExC will present 12 lectures during the Ringvorlesung in the winter semester 2023/2024 for the public. They will be held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm in the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz, professionally recorded and later be published via the Youtube channel of the University of Göttingen. The lectures are usually held in German. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Program of the MBExC Ringvorlesung “Herz und Gehirn gemeinsam im Fokus”:

7 November 2023: Tobias Moser “Wie Hören funktioniert und in der Zukunft wieder hergestellt werden kann” (Moderation: Claudia Steinem)

14 November 2023: Claudia Steinem “Herz und Hirn: Welche Rolle spielt Calcium?” (Moderation: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann)

21 November 2023: André Fischer  “Epigenetik und Gesundheit: Wie wir unsere Gene beeinflussen können!” (Moderation: Melina Schuh) findet im Adam-Von-Trott Saal (Alte Mensa) statt

28 November 2023: Silvio Rizzoli “Die extrazelluläre Matrix: lebenswichtiger, aber kaum verstandener Bestandteil des Herzens und des Gehirns“ (Moderation: André Fischer)

5 December 2023: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann  “Herzpflaster: Hilfe für ein schwaches Herz” (Moderation: Viola Priesemann)

12 December 2023: Melina Schuh “Von der Erforschung der Eizelle bis zum Kinderwunsch“ (Moderation: Jan Huisken)

19 December 2023: Valentin Nägerl “Nanokosmos im Gehirn: Dynamik und Mechanismen der Neuroplastizität“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

9 January 2024: Tim Salditt “Herz und Hirn im Röntgenblick: dreidimensionale Darstellung der Zytoarchitektur“ (Moderation: Axel Munk)

16 January 2024: Rubén Fernández Busnadiego “New electron microscopy technologies to decipher the secrets of neurons“ (Moderation: Silvio Rizzoli)

23 January 2024: Niels Voigt “Herzbeben – Wenn das Herz außer Takt gerät…“ (Moderation: Jutta Gärtner)

30 January 2024: Viola Priesemann “Lernen in Lebenden Netzwerken“ (Moderation: Claudia Steinem )

6 February 2024: Jan Huisken “Ein Flamingo geht auf Reisen: Mit dem Lichtblattmikroskop biologische Entwicklungsprozesse entschlüsseln“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

Please also visit the website of the University of Göttingen: Öffentliche Ringvorlesung

For further information please contact: heike.conrad[at]med.uni-goettingen.de

The MBExC will present 12 lectures during the Ringvorlesung in the winter semester 2023/2024 for the public. They will be held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm in the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz, professionally recorded and later be published via the Youtube channel of the University of Göttingen. The lectures are usually held in German. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Program of the MBExC Ringvorlesung “Herz und Gehirn gemeinsam im Fokus”:

7 November 2023: Tobias Moser “Wie Hören funktioniert und in der Zukunft wieder hergestellt werden kann” (Moderation: Claudia Steinem)

14 November 2023: Claudia Steinem “Herz und Hirn: Welche Rolle spielt Calcium?” (Moderation: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann)

21 November 2023: André Fischer  “Epigenetik und Gesundheit: Wie wir unsere Gene beeinflussen können!” (Moderation: Melina Schuh) findet im Adam-Von-Trott Saal (Alte Mensa) statt

28 November 2023: Silvio Rizzoli “Die extrazelluläre Matrix: lebenswichtiger, aber kaum verstandener Bestandteil des Herzens und des Gehirns“ (Moderation: André Fischer)

5 December 2023: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann  “Herzpflaster: Hilfe für ein schwaches Herz” (Moderation: Viola Priesemann)

12 December 2023: Melina Schuh “Von der Erforschung der Eizelle bis zum Kinderwunsch“ (Moderation: Jan Huisken)

19 December 2023: Valentin Nägerl “Nanokosmos im Gehirn: Dynamik und Mechanismen der Neuroplastizität“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

9 January 2024: Tim Salditt “Herz und Hirn im Röntgenblick: dreidimensionale Darstellung der Zytoarchitektur“ (Moderation: Axel Munk)

16 January 2024: Rubén Fernández Busnadiego “New electron microscopy technologies to decipher the secrets of neurons“ (Moderation: Silvio Rizzoli)

23 January 2024: Niels Voigt “Herzbeben – Wenn das Herz außer Takt gerät…“ (Moderation: Jutta Gärtner)

30 January 2024: Viola Priesemann “Lernen in Lebenden Netzwerken“ (Moderation: Claudia Steinem )

6 February 2024: Jan Huisken “Ein Flamingo geht auf Reisen: Mit dem Lichtblattmikroskop biologische Entwicklungsprozesse entschlüsseln“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

Please also visit the website of the University of Göttingen: Öffentliche Ringvorlesung

For further information please contact: heike.conrad[at]med.uni-goettingen.de

Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Arndt from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena will give a talk on “From Natural Products Synthesis to Tool Compounds for Chemical Biology” during the MBExC Lecture in cooperation with the OC Colloquium on January 9th, 2024 at 17:15 at the lecture hall MN28 (room no. E1.112) at the Faculty of Chemistry, Tammannstr. 4, 37077 Göttingen.

Link to the lecture hall
 
Abstract:
Bioactive natural products inspire the advancement of chemical synthesis as well as research into the identification and validation of biological targets. This will be initially illustrated by the first total synthesis of the peculiar copper transport factor methanobactin. Then, investigations toward the synthesis and function of the algael growth and differentiation factor (-)-thallusin will be presented. Finally, the long term development of F-actin targeting tool compounds will be described, culminating in advanced F-actin photoswitches (“neo-optojasp”) and novel, non-toxic reagents (“NEO-actin”) for high-resolution F-actin imaging by fluorescence microscopy in vitro and in vivo.
 
Host: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Nadja A. Simeth, University of Göttingen

The MBExC will meet for it’s yearly Retreat at the “Landhotel am Rothenberg” in Uslar, Volpriehausen, from February 14 until 16, 2024.

Results of the MBExC research will be exchanged and discussed and strategic goals set.

Please find here the agenda of the MBExC Retreat:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

For log-in information please contact: heike.conrad@med.uni-goettingen.de

This talk will take place during the internal HSC Retreat on 13 February at the Landhotel am Rothenberg.

Internal Event of the Hertha Sponer College

Hertha Sponer College Retreat 2024

DATE: 13 February 2024
VENUE: Landhotel am Rothenberg, Volpriehausen

Hertha Sponer Collegian Talks by Sophia Mutschall, Jakob Reichmann, Elena Cotroneo, Maximilian Winkler, Celine Pohl, Anna Vavakou, Leonie Schadt, Aiste Liutkute, Alexey Alekseev, Gesine Müller, Frederike Maass, Victoria Hunniford, Myeongkyu Kim and Michael Gani Setya

Group Discussions moderated by Elena Cotroneo, Sabina Nowakoska and Svilen Georgiev

HSC Lecture and Meet-the-PI with Christof Lenz, UMG

Please find here the preliminary program of the retreat:

The MBExC will present 12 lectures during the Ringvorlesung in the winter semester 2023/2024 for the public. They will be held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm in the Aula am Wilhelmsplatz, professionally recorded and later be published via the Youtube channel of the University of Göttingen. The lectures are usually held in German. Afterwards, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Program of the MBExC Ringvorlesung “Herz und Gehirn gemeinsam im Fokus”:

7 November 2023: Tobias Moser “Wie Hören funktioniert und in der Zukunft wieder hergestellt werden kann” (Moderation: Claudia Steinem)

14 November 2023: Claudia Steinem “Herz und Hirn: Welche Rolle spielt Calcium?” (Moderation: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann)

21 November 2023: André Fischer  “Epigenetik und Gesundheit: Wie wir unsere Gene beeinflussen können!” (Moderation: Melina Schuh) findet im Adam-Von-Trott Saal (Alte Mensa) statt

28 November 2023: Silvio Rizzoli “Die extrazelluläre Matrix: lebenswichtiger, aber kaum verstandener Bestandteil des Herzens und des Gehirns“ (Moderation: André Fischer)

5 December 2023: Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann  “Herzpflaster: Hilfe für ein schwaches Herz” (Moderation: Viola Priesemann)

12 December 2023: Melina Schuh “Von der Erforschung der Eizelle bis zum Kinderwunsch“ (Moderation: Jan Huisken)

19 December 2023: Valentin Nägerl “Nanokosmos im Gehirn: Dynamik und Mechanismen der Neuroplastizität“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

9 January 2024: Tim Salditt “Herz und Hirn im Röntgenblick: dreidimensionale Darstellung der Zytoarchitektur“ (Moderation: Axel Munk)

16 January 2024: Rubén Fernández Busnadiego “New electron microscopy technologies to decipher the secrets of neurons“ (Moderation: Silvio Rizzoli)

23 January 2024: Niels Voigt “Herzbeben – Wenn das Herz außer Takt gerät…“ (Moderation: Jutta Gärtner)

30 January 2024: Viola Priesemann “Lernen in Lebenden Netzwerken“ (Moderation: Claudia Steinem )

6 February 2024: Jan Huisken “Ein Flamingo geht auf Reisen: Mit dem Lichtblattmikroskop biologische Entwicklungsprozesse entschlüsseln“ (Moderation: Tobias Moser)

Please also visit the website of the University of Göttingen: Öffentliche Ringvorlesung

For further information please contact: heike.conrad[at]med.uni-goettingen.de

Prof. Dr. Chris Meisinger from the Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Freiburg will give a talk on “Shaping the mitochondrial proteome via signal switches at the import machinery” during the MBExC Lecture on 21 March, 2024 at 5 pm at the library of the Humboldtallee 23, first floor.

Host: Prof. Dr. Peter Rehling, University Medical Center Göttingen

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

Hertha Sponer College Workshop (Internal Event)

“Inclusive Leadership – Frameworks, instruments and practices for leading research groups with clarity and ease””

14, 15, 21, 22 March 2024, 9 a.m – 5 p.m.
European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen

Coach: Dr. Kerstin Mauth, Göttingen

Leading others is a privilege and an art that can be learned and mastered. Typical challenges that young leaders in academia face (among others) are: communicating clearly with different people while taking into account their diverse backgrounds and personalities, delegating tasks in such a way that it creates excellent results, fostering team members’ motivation and trust and giving critical feedback in a constructive fashion.
In order to navigate these challenges leaders not only need theoretical knowledge about leadership models, they first must raise their own awareness of their habitual ways of thinking, feeling and acting. They must also learn to see beyond common/surface stereotypes, and instead be able to focus on the underlying interests of individual team members. By doing so, they will be able to create an atmosphere in which each team member feels welcome and included.

We are happy to announce the upcoming Core2Core Synapse Symposium 2024 from 14th-16th of March 2024 at the Manfred Eigen lecture hall of MPI-NAT Faßberg Campus, Am Faßberg 11.

Speakers: Yuki Goda, Christian Rosenmund, Ryuichi Shigemoto, Alain Marty, Takeshi Sakaba, Stefan Hallermann, Stephan Sigrist, Zoltan Nusser, Alexander Walter, Reinhard Jahn, Silvio Rizzoli, Nils Brose, Kenzo Hirose, Sam Young, Erwin Neher, Lu-Yang Wang, Nare Karagulyan, Holger Taschenberger, Volker Haucke, Jürgen Klingauf, Noa Lipstein, Yunfeng Hua, Peter Jonas, Suk-Ho Lee, Shigeo Takamori, Carolin Wichmann, Cordelia Imig, Jakob Sorensen, Uri Ashery, Henrique von Gersdorff, Tobias Moser

Click here for the Core2Core Synapse Symposium program 2024
and here for the pdf of the poster:

Prof. Dr. Wilfried Weber from the INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany will give a lecture during the MBExC Optogenetics Club about “Molecular Optogenetics: Programming Cells and Materials with Light”

Abstract
Molecular optogenetic technologies allow the control of cellular signaling processes along the whole signal transduction cascade with unmatched spatial and temporal resolution.
Based on an overview of molecular photoreceptors, we will present three aspects of our work: First, we will present extracellular optogenetic strategies to dynamically modulate biological and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix. Here, we demonstrate that the functional coupling of photoreceptors to chemical polymers, biomolecules and surfaces allows the control of key features of matrix-cell interactions.
We further develop the concept of engineering intracellular liquid materials comprising synthetic or natural transcription factors to adjust transgene activity. We describe different approaches for the stimulus-inducible formation of liquid transcription factor condensates and demonstrate that these colocalize with target promoters and yield a several-fold increased transgene activity compared to the non-engineered transcription factor. We demonstrate that this concept can be applied to different transcription factors to increase target gene activity in cell culture and in mice.
Finally, we will present recent work on engineering viral transduction systems with optogenetic tools to optically guide gene transfer. We demonstrate that this technology allows spatially and temporally controlled gene transfer in primary cells and cell lines. We further demonstrate optically guided transduction at single-cell resolution.

Chairs: Tobias Moser and Thomas Mager

Poster of the talk:

DATE: 10 until 12 April 2024
VENUE: European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Griesebachstr. 5, 37077 Göttingen, Seminar room 2 0G 2.006
SPEAKERS: Raffaele Coray, Daniel Gastano Diez, Alma Vivas Lago (Spanish National Research Council)

PROGRAM

Day 1, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, General Tools

09:00 AM Research Talk

10:00 AM General introduction: Hands-on guide to basic tools

11:00 AM Starters Guide: subtomogram averaging

01:30 PM General Modeling

02:00 PM Models: Filaments

02:45 PM Models: Vesicles

03:30 PM Models: Surfaces
 

Day 2, Thursday, April 11, 2024, General Tools

09:00 AM Template Matching

10:15 AM Principal Component Analysis

11:30 AM Alignment of tilt series: Manual

12:00 PM Alignment of tilt series: GUI

12:30 PM Alignment of tilt series: command line

01:30 PM – 05:00 PM Practical Cases FHV
 

Day 3, Friday, April 12, 2024, Practical case: High resolution workflow

09:00 AM – 05:00 PM High Resolution workflow for HIV1: preprocessing, Dynamo manipulation, binding with Relion
 
For further information, please visit the Workshop webpage

Click here for the poster of the MBExC Workshop Cryo-ET data processing with Dynamo

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Please find the pdf to the announcement here

Chalk Talks – Göttingen scientists present their research!

Equipped only with a blackboard and chalk, Göttingen scientists provide entertaining and exciting insights into their specialisms in a relaxed atmosphere.

As part of the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”, Prof. Dr. Niels Voigt from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Göttingen Heart Center, University Medical Center Göttingen will be a guest at the Forum Wissen on Friday, 31 May from 4:30 p.m. and report on his research.

Registration is not required.

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

 
Here you can find an overview of all chalk talks from season 4

Chalk Talks – Göttingen scientists present their research!

Equipped only with a blackboard and chalk, Göttingen scientists provide entertaining and exciting insights into their specialisms in a relaxed atmosphere.

As part of the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”, Prof. Dr. Bernd Wollnik from the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Medical Center Göttingen will be a guest at the Forum Wissen on Friday, 24 May from 4:30 p.m.

The Institute researches a wide range of scientific issues such as the decoding of molecular causes of monogenic diseases, the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of tumour diseases as well as important biological processes such as genomic (in)stability and its role in age-associated diseases.

Registration is not required.

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

 
Here you can find an overview of all chalk talks from season 4

Prof. Dr. Nina Hartrampf from the Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Switzerland will give a talk on “New tools for flow-based peptide and protein synthesis” during the MBExC Lecture in cooperation with the OC Colloquium on Tuesday, 21 May, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. at the lecture hall IV MN 30 (seminar room E.1.101), Tammannstr. 4, Chemistry department.

Abstract
The protein MYC is an intrinsically disordered transcription factor that is upregulated in >50% of cancers and engages in numerous protein-protein interactions.[1] These interactions are often regulated through posttranslational modifications (PTMs) within MYC’s N-terminus (transactivation domain), most commonly (poly)phosphorylation. Studying these interactions on a molecular level requires proteins with unique and defined PTM patterns, which are challenging to obtain by recombinant methods.[2] Flow-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) could therefore be used to obtain long, uniquely modified MYC peptides to study PTM-dependent binding interactions on a molecular level.[3,4]
A challenge that arose during the chemical synthesis of MYC’s transactivation domain—that is often encountered in SPPS—was the aggregation of growing peptide chains (“difficult sequences”), which can lead to incomplete couplings. Previous research into this sequence-dependent phenomenon was limited by the lack of high-throughput analytical methods, thus impeding systematic analysis. While flow-based SPPS allows for aggregation detection, it has so far not led to the development of tools for its suppression.
To enable the synthesis of MYC’s transactivation domain, we developed a “Synthesis Tag” (SynTag) consisting of six arginines connected via a cleavable MeDbz linker.[5] SynTag effectively improves batch- and flow-SPPS of “difficult sequences”, enhances the solubility of the cleaved peptides and provides direct access to native sequences by hydrolysis, or peptide thioesters for Native Chemical Ligation (NCL). We demonstrate its utility in the first chemical synthesis of the MYC transactivation domain with a single NCL. We envisage SynTag to become a broadly applicable tool that enables the synthesis and study of previously unattainable peptides and proteins.

References:
[1] C. Lourenco, D. Resetca, C. Redel, P. Lin, A. S. MacDonald, R. Ciaccio, T. M. G. Kenney, Y. Wei, D. W. Andrews, M. Sunnerhagen, C. H. Arrowsmith, B. Raught, L. Z. Penn, Nat. Rev. Cancer 2021, 21, 579–591
[2] A. C. Conibear, Nat. Rev. Chem. 2020, 4, 674–695; T. Bilbrough, E. Piemontese, O. Seitz, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2022, 51, 5691–5730
[3] N. Hartrampf, A. Saebi, M. Poskus, Z. P. Gates, A. J. Callahan, A. E. Cowfer, S. Hanna, S. Antilla, C. K. Schissel, A. J. Quartararo, X. Ye, A. J. Mijalis, M. D. Simon, A. Loas, S. Liu, C. Jessen, T. E. Nielsen, B. L. Pentelute, Science 2020, 368, 980.
[3] E. T. Williams, K. Schiefelbein, M. Schuster, I. M. M. Ahmed, M. De Vries, R. Beveridge, O. Zerbe, N. Hartrampf, ChemRxiv 2024, DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-mfpkx.
[4] H. Bürgisser, E. T. Williams, R. Lescure, A. Premanand, A. Jeandin, N. Hartrampf, ChemRxiv 2023, DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-7mz2c.

 

Host: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Nadja A. Simeth-Crespi, University Göttingen

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Annalisa Scimemi, PhD, from the Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY Albany, New York, USA will give a talk on “Perseverance versus cognitive flexibility: neuronal glutamate transporters give us a reason not to indulge in either” during the MBExC Lecture on Tuesday, 7 May, 2024 at 1 p.m. at the lecture hall, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3.

Abstract
Most of what is currently known about glutamate transporters, specifically their ability to maintain glutamate homeostasis and limit glutamate diffusion away from the synaptic cleft, is based on studies of glial glutamate transporters. By contrast, little is known about the functional implications of neuronal glutamate transporters. The neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1 is widely expressed throughout the brain, particularly in the striatum, the primary input nucleus of the basal ganglia, a region implicated with movement execution and reward. Here, we show that EAAC1 limits synaptic excitation onto a population of striatal medium spiny neurons identified for their expression of D1 dopamine receptors (D1-MSNs). In these cells, EAAC1 also contributes to strengthen lateral inhibition from other D1-MSNs. By reducing the sensitivity and dynamic range of action potential firing in D1-MSNs, EAAC1 limits the propensity of mice to rapidly switch between behaviors associated with different reward probabilities. Together, these findings shed light on some important molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated with behavior flexibility in mice.

Hosts: Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser & Hyojin Kim, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

Host: Jörg Enderlein (U GOE), MBExC
Local organizer: Alexander Egner (IFNANO)

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Thomas Huser, Department of Physics, University of Bielefeld

Title: Enhanced contrast mechanisms for live cell structured illumination microscopy

Abstract:
Super-resolved structured illumination microscopy (SR-SIM) is a widely used fluorescence microscopy technique capable of surpassing the optical diffraction limit, which employs rapid image acquisition, imaging at multiple color channels, and true 3D imaging capability. The basic optical physics behind structured illumination does, however, promise a much wider range of potential contrast mechanisms. We have recently developed a new generation of compact, cost-efficient and high-speed SR-SIM modalities based on a fiber-optic implementation that takes advantage of novel sCMOS cameras with up to 26 MegaPixel. This enabled us to obtain a significantly increased field-of-view of up to 280 µm x 280 µm with video-rate image acquisition, while still providing 100 nm spatial resolution. By combining this with a unique prism-based telescope, we can now also seamlessly transition from 2D/3D SIM to grazing incidence illumination and TIRF-SIM with different TIRF angles. This opens up a pathway to increased axial resolution. Furthermore, by combining this modality with a fast electrooptic gate, SIM with fluorescence lifetime imaging becomes possible. I will discuss novel applications of these enhanced contrast mechanisms in live cell imaging. In particular, I will demonstrate how we utilize this to provide new insights into the fast dynamics of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells during their scavenging activity.

Please find here the PDF of the announcement:

Lego Workshop with biophysicist Prof. Dr. Timo Betz!

Our current special exhibition “Heart & Brain – Understanding Together” showcases cutting-edge microscopy techniques that allow researchers to “look inside” cells and tissues.
In this workshop, biophysicists Prof. Dr. Timo Betz and Dr. Bart Vos will guide participants aged 10 and over to build their own microscope out of Lego bricks and use it to discover the tiniest structures and connections. Participants will learn about the technology behind microscopy and will be able to use their own smartphones to take pictures of magnifications of exciting specimens. Together with the biophysicist, participants can build a complex microscope out of Lego bricks and try out microscopy on different specimens.
The event is aimed at young people aged between 10 and 16.

The workshop is free of charge.
Please register with our information desk team.

Phone: +49 551 3926600

E-Mail: info@forum-wissen.de

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

Host: Alexander Egner (IFNANO), MBExC
Local organizers: Alexander Egner (IFNANO) & Jörg Enderlein (U GOE)

Speaker: Dr. Joseph Beckwith, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, UK

Title: Shining light on single particles: from high time resolution to high throughput

Abstract:
Chemical and biophysical dynamics increasingly need high time resolution and high throughput to answer questions relevant to chemistry and biology. I will present two investigations aimed at improving our ability to do this. First, an investigation into how solvent can affect charge transfer, which we studied using bulk solution-phase transient electronic spectroscopy. First, an investigation in which we show an experiment that measures a single particle’s 3D translation with a time resolution of 10 μs and a spatial resolution of ~50 nm in all 3 directions, and measures 3D orientation with 250 μs time resolution. This investigation also naturally opens up investigation into biophysical phenomena, which occur in complex environments on similar timescales. Then, I will discuss recent work on extracting a larger amounts of information from images of “messy” systems, particularly of importance in the realm of tissue imaging and experiments such as FISH. I will close with a vision of future work to enable the spectroscopic interrogation of any non-fluorescent single molecule or nanoparticle as it freely moves in solution.

Please find here the PDF of the announcement:

Prof. Dr. Alexander Gottschalk from the Molecular Cell Biology and Neurobiochemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences and Institute of Biophysical Chemistry will give a lecture during the MBExC Optogenetics Club about “Neuropeptidergic regulation of synaptic transmission in C. elegans and zebrafish – optogenetic tools and analyses”

Abstract
Chemical synaptic transmission is a crucial for all animals. While many key players have been characterized, there are still new aspects to be uncovered. In recent years, neuromodulatory regulation of synaptic transmission came into focus. In C. elegans, neuropeptides play important roles in this. cAMP signaling, downstream of sensory inputs or internal brain states, causes an increase in synaptic vesicle fusion, but also in regulating the filling state of synaptic vesicles, which is mediated by neuropeptides. We identified neuropeptides involved in this regulation and uncovered postsynaptic homeostatic compensation in their absence. To explore whether such mechanisms may be conserved in vertebrates, we turned to zebrafish. We found that optogenetically induced cAMP signaling using bPAC induces transmitter release and evokes exaggerated behavior. We found that neuropeptide signaling affects these responses, and identified a likely neuropeptide candidate, tac1. In the absence of neuropeptide processing, or of tac1, we found that muscles had upregulated nAChRs to compensate for this defect. This postsynaptic compensation differs from C. elegans, where mechanisms downstream of nAChRs are involved. I will also report on optogenetic tools for the analysis of synaptic transmission, and for the regulation of distinct pools of SVs and DCVs.

Chairs: Tobias Moser and Thomas Mager

Poster of the talk:

Dr. Mina Gouti from the Max-Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin will give a talk on “Building advanced neuromuscular models to study human development and disease” during the MBExC Lecture on 13 June, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the lecture hall, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3.

Abstract
Locomotion results from the interaction between muscles and the nervous system. Dysfunction of such cells results in deadly diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuromuscular diseases often show regional selectivity but the underlying reasons remain obscure due to the lack of a suitable human model system. We have recently used human pluripotent stem cell derived axial stem cells, the building blocks of the posterior body, to simultaneously generate spinal cord neurons and skeletal muscle cells that self-organize in 3D to generate neuromuscular organoids (NMOs). NMOs contain functional neuromuscular junctions supported by terminal Schwann cells. They contract and develop central pattern generator-like neuronal circuits (Martins et al, Cell Stem Cell, 2020). We are currently applying NMOs to study the early development of the human neuromuscular system and to model neuromuscular diseases. This approach promises to uncover the sequence of events and provide greater insight into the mechanisms that lead to specific diseases by tackling previously inaccessible features of neuromuscular junction biology.

Host: Dr. Maria-Patapia Zafeiriou, University Medical Center Göttingen

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Improvisation theatre workshop for the special exhibition Heart & Brain!

In this workshop, you will get active yourself and playfully try out what your brain is capable of in everyday life. Using improvisation techniques, we will stimulate our brain, activate our laughter muscles and strengthen our heart at the same time. Laughter is the best medicine!

Actress Beatriz Beyer from the Göttingen improvisation theatre group “Improsant” will guide you through this short workshop with heart and brain.

The event is aimed at participants aged 15 and over and no previous experience is expected.

Please register at the information desk at Forum Wissen.

Phone: +49 551 3926600

E-Mail: info@forum-wissen.de

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

Chalk Talks – Göttingen scientists present their research!

Equipped only with a blackboard and chalk, Göttingen scientists provide entertaining and exciting insights into their specialisms in a relaxed atmosphere.

As part of the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Nadja Simeth-Crespi from the Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Göttingen will be a guest at the Forum Wissen on Friday, 7 June from 4:30 p.m.

Registration is not required.

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

 
Here you can find an overview of all chalk talks from season 4

Dr. Eva Kreysing from the University of Cambridge will give a talk on “The electrical maturation of neurons is regulated by tissue mechanics” during the MBExC Lecture on 5 June, 2024 at 4:15 pm at the small lecture hall, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3.

Abstract
During the development of the nervous system, neurons grow axons and dendrites to connect with other cells. As neurons become integrated into the neural network, they mature and develop electrical activity. While mechanical interactions between neurons and their environment are critical for axon growth and pathfinding, their role in the electrical maturation of neurons, and thus in the formation of circuits in the developing brain, remain poorly understood. Here, we cultured rat hippocampal neurons on substrates with different mechanical properties and found that electrical activity developed earlier on soft hydrogels compared to stiff hydrogels. This stiffness-dependent neuronal maturation was mediated by the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1. Using RNA sequencing, pathway analysis, CRIPSPR/Cas9-based gene knockdown and Western blots, we identified a downstream signalling cascade responsible for the differential expression of neurotransmitter receptors, which regulate neuronal maturation. Finally, we found that stiffening of the developing Xenopus laevis delayed circuit formation in vivo. Our findings highlight a critical role of mechanical signals in neuronal maturation and suggest that local brain tissue stiffness is a critical regulator of circuit formation in the developing brain.

Host: Prof. Dr. Fred Wolf, Goettingen Campus Institute for Dynamics of Biological Networks, University of Göttingen & MPI-DS

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

Hertha Sponer College Advanced Methods Course (Internal Event)

HSC Advanced Methods Course “Statistical and Computational Data Science I”

Description:
This course is the first part of the HSC Course cycle “Statistical and Computational Data Science”. The goal is to provide a systematic introduction to statistical and computational data science with themes tailored to the needs of data analysis tasks arising in MBExC Cluster of Excellence for general (non-mathematician) audience. Topics will cover statistical paradoxes, graphical methods (including histograms, box plot, Q-Q plots, etc.), basic stat theory (e.g. multivariate normal distribution, Bayes theorem), clustering, regression and classification. The required basic knowledge will also be provided in the lecture. Further topics, such as hypothesis testing, ANOVA, clustering, time series, functional estimation and imaging, etc. will be provided in a follow-up lecture series.

Schedule:
1 week block course 22-26 July 2024
Lectures: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Exercises: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Supervisor: Housen Li, MBExC Application Specialist Comnputational Modeling and Advanced Data Analysis; Institute for Mathematical Stochastics, UGOE

Improvisation theatre workshop for the special exhibition Heart & Brain!

In this workshop, you will get active yourself and playfully try out what your brain is capable of in everyday life. Using improvisation techniques, we will stimulate our brain, activate our laughter muscles and strengthen our heart at the same time. Laughter is the best medicine!

Actress Beatriz Beyer from the Göttingen improvisation theatre group “Improsant” will guide you through this short workshop with heart and brain.

The event is aimed at participants aged 15 and over and no previous experience is expected.

Please register at the information desk at Forum Wissen.

Phone: +49 551 3926600

E-Mail: info@forum-wissen.de

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

Family health check and lecture with Dr. med. Boris Barbarics

Family health check with Dr. med. Boris Barbarics, paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist in Göttingen.
Dr. Boris Barbarics and his team will give you informative insights into important health topics for you and your family and will measure your blood pressure on request!

Please also visit the website of Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Please find the pdf of the poster here:

Improvisation theatre workshop for the special exhibition Heart & Brain!

In this workshop, you will get active yourself and playfully try out what your brain is capable of in everyday life. Using improvisation techniques, we will stimulate our brain, activate our laughter muscles and strengthen our heart at the same time. Laughter is the best medicine!

Actress Beatriz Beyer from the Göttingen improvisation theatre group “Improsant” will guide you through this short workshop with heart and brain.

The event is aimed at participants aged 15 and over and no previous experience is expected.

Please register at the information desk at Forum Wissen.

Phone: +49 551 3926600

E-Mail: info@forum-wissen.de

Please also visit the website of the Forum Wissen for further information about the special exhibition “Heart & Brain – understanding together”.

Hertha Sponer College “Busting-the-Methods-Bubble” Seminar

“Insights into the clinics”

MBExC Clincian Scientist Dr. med. Laura Wüstefeld, UMG
Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, Heart Research Center Göttingen, UMG

Course structure:
     Part I:  Seminar with a clinical case presentation (approx. 90 min)
     Part II: Tour of the Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, UMG (insight into the wards and individual functional areas; approx. 60 min)

The Hertha Sponer College “Busting-the-Methods-Bubble” is a small group offer from collegians for collegians to present and share their specific method or expertise by detailed expalnation otf the technique and discussing its application in collegians projects.

Hertha Sponer College “Busting-the-Methods-Bubble” Seminar

“Insights into the clinics”

MBExC Clincian Scientist Dr. med. Laura Wüstefeld, UMG
Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, Heart Research Center Göttingen, UMG

Course structure:
     Part I:  Seminar with a clinical case presentation (approx. 90 min)
     Part II: Tour of the Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, UMG (insight into the wards and individual functional areas; approx. 60 min)

The Hertha Sponer College “Busting-the-Methods-Bubble” is a small group offer from collegians for collegians to present and share their specific method or expertise by detailed expalnation otf the technique and discussing its application in collegians projects.

Artur Indzhykulian, MD, PhD, from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA will give a talk on “Harnessing AI for Enhanced Analysis of Cochlear Imaging Data” during the MBExC Lecture on 19 September, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the lecture hall, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3.

Abstract
The sensory epithelium of the mammalian cochlea exhibits a tightly organized pattern of sensory hair cells along the so-called tonotopic axis. High-resolution imaging now commonly generates large datasets from light and electron microscopy, but analyzing these massive datasets has become a bottleneck, exacerbated by the lack of efficient tools that can mitigate user biases and manual labor.
Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) are transforming our ability to analyze extensive datasets and accelerate scientific discovery, particularly in tasks related to bio-image analysis. We will present examples of AI/ML-based applications we have developed for analyzing large inner ear imaging datasets, demonstrating how these technologies can expedite traditional time-consuming analyses and help overcome barriers in the field. These tools serve as a blueprint for developing novel applications in the field of auditory neuroscience.
To develop one such tool, we first assembled a diverse, carefully annotated dataset comprising 2D images of auditory hair cells captured using fluorescence microscopy, contributed by the global auditory research community. We then developed an AI/ML-based application trained on this dataset that automates the detection, classification, and quantification of hair cells along the tonotopic axis. The tool leverages advanced deep learning libraries and architectures, resulting in robust, generalizable models. Next, we extended AI/ML models to a more complex challenge: analyzing serial 3D electron microscopy datasets. We developed a novel tool for volumetric instance segmentation of mitochondria, which significantly enhances the structural analysis of subcellular organelles in electron microscopy volumes.
Our results illustrate significant time savings and increased reproducibility, utilizing open-source technologies and free software to build tools that can be shared as standalone tools or ImageJ plugins. These developments streamline data processing across various imaging modalities commonly used in the field of auditory neuroscience and enable detailed, quantitative analysis of large datasets to aid in discoveries that may have been overlooked otherwise.
While not exhaustive, these case studies underscore the essential steps for developing and employing AI/ML-based tools to address complex biological questions, highlighting the potential of these technologies to advance studies that rely heavily on detailed imaging data analysis.

Host: Dr. Barbara Vona, University Medical Center Göttingen & HSC Instructor

Poster announcement:

Animal experiments in Science: Necessity, alternatives and ethical considerations – time for an open debate!

On September 17, 2024 at 6.30 pm, another event in the “Salon Debates” series will take place at Forum Wissen. The series addresses current issues from science and society, which will be discussed with guests in a talk show format. All interested parties are cordially invited.

In the midst of heated debates in society and politics, the question arises: “Can’t we just stop testing on animals?” Since 2013, no cosmetics may be tested on animals in the EU and the marketing of cosmetics that have been tested on animals elsewhere is also prohibited. The shredding of chicks has been stopped in Germany and the ethics and scientific necessity of animal testing in science is also being questioned. Calls are being made for a complete ban. But what would this mean for science and society?

What are the arguments for and against animal experiments in science? How are they currently regulated? What animal-free methods are available? And how can these be used effectively in research?

The ethical issues surrounding the topic of animal testing are complex. How does science meet these challenges?

Journalist and presenter Vladimir Balzer from Deutschlandfunk will discuss these and other questions on September 17 with the following guests: hearing researcher and speaker of the Göttingen Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging” (MBExC) Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser, Göttingen medical ethicist Prof. Dr. Silke Schicktanz, Director of the German Primate Center Prof. Dr. Stefan Treue, and long-standing MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen).

Moderator: Vladimir Balzer, Deutschlandfunk

As places are limited, please register via the registration tool. The event will be recorded and will be available on the University of Göttingen’s YouTube channel.

Further information on the special exhibition of the Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC) can be found at:
https://www.forum-wissen.de/herz-und-hirn/.

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

Christiane Grimm from the Institut de la Vision, Paris will give a lecture during the MBExC Optogenetics Club in collaboration with the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies (EKFZ). She will talk about “Manipulating and Observing Neural Activity with Scanless Two-Photon Illumination and Microbial Rhodopsins”.

Chairs: Tobias Moser and Thomas Mager

Abstract:

Poster of the talk:

Hertha Sponer College Workshop (Internal Event)

“Designing projects successfully – managing your own resources”

07–08 October 2024, 9 a.m – 5 p.m.
Conference Center Alte Sternwarte

Trainer: Dipl.-Psych. Klaus Bindernagel, Ingolstadt

Projects today are often characterized by
− increasing complexity and networking
− decreasing predictability of events (planability illusion)
− opposing development of the required and the available time
In this situation, classic methods of project management that follow a linear-causal logic to achieve defined goals quickly reach their limits. The event aims to take this into account and teaches approThe aspect of self-management focuses primarily on creating a healthy balance between self-directed shaping of one’s own role and goals (important things) on the one hand and externally driven demands (urgent things) on the other, which often push us into reactive behavior patterns.

Arend Vogt from the Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin will give a lecture during the MBExC Optogenetics Club in collaboration with the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies (EKFZ). He will talk about “Development of optogenetic tools for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and for opto-immunology”.

Host: Tobias Brügmann, UMG

Abstract:

Poster of the talk:

Prof. Dr. med. Katrin Amunts and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Timo Dickscheid from the Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Research Center Juelich and Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf will held a talk about “The Human Brain Atlas: concept, application and implementation” during the MBExC Lecture on 14 November, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Abstract
Studying the human brain requires to capture its structural and functional organization in a common spatial framework. Despite progress in imaging and mapping however, access to information of different scales and modalities for applications ranging from visual exploration to computational workflows remains a challenge. In this presentation, we introduce the concept of a multilevel human brain atlas which integrates reference templates at different spatial scales, complementary parcellation maps, and a broad selection of multimodal data resources. The atlas builds on probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps as a well-defined reference parcellation which captures intersubject variability and provides precise boundaries for more than 200 cortical and subcortical regions. It integrates the BigBrain 3D model with the common MNI and freesurfer reference spaces to build a bridge from the macroscopic of the microscopic scales, and to provide appropriate level of detail for spatial anchoring of histological measurements. Multimodal data resources include cell and neurotransmitter receptor densities, fibre orientations, gene expressions and functional and structural connectivity from neuroimaging cohorts. The atlas is hosted as part of the European research infrastructure EBRAINS, and accessible through siibra, a software tool suite that provides streamlined access to all its contents. The tool suite includes a web-based 3D viewer and a Python library to support a broad range of use cases, including interactive and programmatic approaches. All tools and contents are freely available.

Host: Prof. Dr. Tim Salditt, University of Göttingen

Please find the poster of the announcement here:

Dr. Oded Mayseless from the Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland will held a talk about “Innate odor valence maps to spatially and transcriptionally unique projection neurons within the olfactory bulb” during the MBExC Lecture on 13 November, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Abstract
Innate odor classification is crucial for animal survival, yet the role of the olfactory bulb (OB) in this process remains unclear. In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of larval zebrafish behavioral response to odors, along with functional and transcriptional characterization of the OB. We linked specific transcriptional clusters to odor valence by integrating a novel behavioral assay, CaMPARI-based functional readouts, single-cell RNA sequencing, and whole-mount spatial transcriptomics. Our results show that chemically distinct odors can elicit similar behaviors, and these behaviors are associated with valence specific activation patterns. We also identified spatial distribution of projection neurons and interneuron transcriptional types linked to valence. These findings offer a functional atlas of the OB and connect spatial-transcriptional activation patterns with innate odor classification.

Host: Dr. Thomas Frank, University of Göttingen

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Poster of the talk:

The Hertha Sponer College Lecture Series is addressed to interested students, PhD candidates, postdocs, and PIs. The overall idea is to fundamentally explain research by providing an overview about the general aims of the six MBExC Research Alliances with special focus on the specific techniques that are developed and applied. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm within the semester term, and are offered by MBExC PIs. Subsequent to lecture and discussion, Hertha Sponer College members have the opportunity to “Meet-the-PI” and each other for asking more specific or general questions, networking and socializing.

Internal Event of the Hertha Sponer College

Hertha Sponer College Career Day 2024

Date: Tuedsay, 10 December 2024
Venue: Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen

Programm:
– Career Development Talks role models from academia, industry, clinician scientist, application specialist, science management & communication
– HSC Lecture with Viola Priesemann, Theorie of Neuronal Systems, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics & Selforganization & UGOE (5:00 PM)
– HSC Xmas-Party