Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)

👨🔬 We are happy to welcome Marios Georgakis to our Early Excellence Academy! Marios leads a research group focused on developing next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics for cardiovascular disease at LMU Munich. 💡 His lab utilizes large-scale, multi-dimensional data from epidemiological studies and human biobanks, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and imaging. They apply bioinformatic tools to develop precise and personalized preventive strategies, focusing specifically on atherosclerosis, which is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease and stroke. 🔗 Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/dEu-pFG8 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, LMU Klinikum München

🧠 A really nice overview of our member Ali Maximilian Ertürk breakthrough research with WildDISCO👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dZ9n6tj2

We now introduce SCP-Nano just out in Nature Biotechnology👇🏼 LNP/mRNA therapeutics and AAV-based approaches require cell-level precision to achieve success without significant toxicity to other cells. To enable this, we developed SCP-Nano: an AI and tissue-clearing-based technology for precision nanotechnology. https://lnkd.in/d8jScpKe 💡 What is SCP-Nano? SCP-Nano (Single Cell Precision Nanocarrier Identification) is an innovative pipeline that maps and quantifies the biodistribution of fluorescence-labeled nanocarriers across the entire mouse body. With single-cell resolution and unmatched sensitivity, it provides crucial insights to accelerate therapeutic advancements. 🔬 Key Innovations: 1️⃣ Optimized DISCO tissue clearing for nanocarrier imaging at clinical doses. 2️⃣ Advanced deep-learning algorithms for reliable detection and quantification of millions of targeted cells. 3️⃣ Integration with molecular tools like proteomics and spatial transcriptomics for comprehensive analysis. 🌟 Applications Include: •Uncovering organ-specific LNP targeting heterogeneity to optimize routes and doses. •Detecting off-target effects and assessing molecular impacts for safe clinical translation. •Mapping biodistribution of DNA origami and AAVs, revealing new insights into targeting tropisms. Our technology bridges the gap left by traditional histology and whole-body imaging method like PET, MRI, and bioluminescence, enabling quantitative and unbiased evaluations at a level of precision never seen before. 📄 Read our paper in Nature Biotechnology: https://lnkd.in/d8jScpKe 📂 Access the open-source code: https://lnkd.in/dMEpdNJ5 A big thank you to the brilliant team and collaborators from @HelmholtzMunich, @LMU_Muenchen, @ISD_Research, and our supporters at @SyNergy_Cluster, @ERC_Research, and others for making this possible. Let’s drive the future of nanocarrier-based therapeutics forward! 🚀 #AI #Nanomedicine #Biotechnology #PrecisionMedicine #Innovation

Will we all get Alzheimer’s at some point? 🧠 Christian Haass is Head of the Chair of Metabolic Biochemistry at LMU and spokesperson of the Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy). He has been researching Alzheimer's disease for more than 35 years. In the video, the #LMU professor talks about drugs that slow down the progression of the disease and new approaches in research. #Alzheimers #AlzheimersResearch #LMUMunich #SyNergy

🧠 Tau PET imaging has shown growing potential as a biomarker for 4-repeat (4R)-tauopathy progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, understanding how in vitro 4R-tau binding translates into in vivo tau PET signals remains challenging. A study led by Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Brendel takes a major step forward using advanced methodologies, including a pilot PET autopsy study, to uncover the mechanisms behind tau PET signals in 4R-tauopathies like PSP. They show that neuronal and oligodendroglial tau constitutes the dominant source of tau PET radiotracer binding in 4-repeat-tauopathies, translating to an in vivo signal. Johannes Levin, Jochen Herms, Günter Höglinger, Dr. Nicolai Franzmeier 🔗 Read the study in Acta Neuropathalogica: https://lnkd.in/dm7dkdQ8 LMU Klinikum München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

🧠 New study by our member Ali Maximilian Ertürk in Cell Host & Microbe 👇

Thank you Meike for this fantastic kick-off event for our „SyNergy Mentoring Program for Female Scientists “. The introductory event was incredibly valuable and it provided our new mentees as well as mentors with a lot of useful tools and perspectives for the upcoming mentoring year 2024/25.

💡 #Alzheimer’s: new strategy for #amyloid diagnostics Soon they will be authorized in Germany: the first drugs against Alzheimer's disease that are intended to slow down the progression of the condition. On November 14, 2024, the EMA granted approval for Lecanemab in the European Union. The drugs attack so-called amyloid plaques in the brain. But how can we reliably and cost-effectively diagnose the presence of amyloid plaques in patients who show up at memory clinics with slight cognitive impairment or mild dementia – that is, the target group for the drugs? A new study furnishes answers that could be incorporated into patient treatment. The study was initiated by our members Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Brendel, Dr. Nicolai Franzmeier, and Günter Höglinger. Now the results of the study have been published in the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoring. 🔗 Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/dXZBP49x A graphical abstract of the study below 👇 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, LMU Klinikum München

🏆 On Thursday, November 14, we celebrated Anne Wöllmer for receiving the Harald-Mückter Prize for her #Alzheimer's course, developed as part of SyNergy’s translational teaching track. 🧠 👩🏫 Anne Wöllmer, together with Christine Wild-Bode, developed a comprehensive course on Alzheimer’s disease for LMU medical students. The curriculum covers the full spectrum – from fundamental research to clinical and caregivers’ insights. It is hosted on an eLearning platform (Moodle) and features innovative tools such as storytelling, interviews with researchers, screencasts, and self-produced educational films. The course is further enriched with review sessions and quizzes to consolidate knowledge. A very flexible structure allows Alzheimer’s research to be integrated into various stages of the students' academic journey. 🔗 Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/dsBWtvzn LMU Klinikum München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biomedical Center (BMC) LMU Munich

👏 Congratulations to our member Matthias H. Tschöp! 👇