MD Projects

Anna Zweigerdt

Roles of the hippo pathway kinase Ndr2 in GABAergic interneurons throughout the forebrain, regarding exploratory activity and emotional behavior in mice (project A2)

I am a medical student at Otto-von-Guericke-University in Magdeburg. My main interests include molecular neuroscience, along with neurology and psychiatry. Therefore, as a member of the SynAGE Research Training Group 2413, I am currently doing my MD thesis in the Stork Lab at the Institute of Biology.

For my thesis, I am characterizing a Dlx5/6-driven conditional Ndr2 knockout mouse line to further investigate the role of Ndr2 in forebrain GABAergic interneurons. As a member of the Hippo signaling pathway, the kinase Ndr2 plays a key role in regulating tissue growth, neuronal development, cognitive function, and healthy brain aging. To explore its role in interneurons, I will conduct behavioral tests and apply molecular methods such as immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

Julia Gatzen

Episodic memory network connectivity with aging and Alzheimer’s disease pathology in cognitively unimpaired older adults (project D1)

I’m studying human medicine at the OvGU Magdeburg. During my studies, I developed a great fascination with the complexity of the brain. Therefore, since October 2024, I’ve been a medical doctoral student in the Maass research group at DZNE and a member of the SynAGE Research Training Group 2413.

In my project, I use resting-state magnetic resonance imaging to investigate functional connectivity patterns in the human brain. My focus is on the influence of pathological changes typical of Alzheimer’s disease in aging and how these relate to memory performance.