The RTG 2413 put special emphasis to include medical students into the program to foster the understanding of the importance of translational research and at the same time to improve the scientific training of MD students from an early stage onwards and allow them to develop into clinician scientists.

Our current MD candidates:

Joanna Panczyszyn

MD thesis title: Effects of L-DOPA on memory consolidation in high- and low-performing amyloid-negative adults

Start: 04.2022

Linked to: Project 12

Anna Rauffauf

MD thesis title: Dysbalanced protein homeostasis as a hallmark and intervention target for aging cells?

Start: 11.2021

Linked to: Project 1

Kevin Jonischkies

MD thesis title:Autophagy mechanisms in the aging hippocampus

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 2

Patrick Kraus

MD thesis title:A nexus between DNA-hypomethylation and cognitive decline in healthy aging

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 3

Talia Flick

MD thesis title:The effect of immunosenescence on synapse composition in a chronic neuroinflammation model 

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 5

Thomas Neitzel

MD thesis title:Rejuvenation of neural extracellular matrix by clinically approved drugs

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 6

Melina Westhues

MD thesis title: Targeting perisynaptic ECM mediated synaptic dysfunction in cerebral small vessel disease

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 7

Lukas Höhn

MD thesis title:The perisynaptic extracellular matrix (ECM) of the aging brain: impact of enriched environment and neuromodulation on ECM composition and cognitive performance

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 8

Lukas Schönwolf

MD thesis title:Impact of stress on aging of BDNF-dependent synaptic and cognitive functions

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 11

Steve Schulz

MD thesis title:Learning from mistakes: Cholinergic modulation of interactions between performance monitoring and long-term memory

Start: 10.2021

Linked to: Project 13

Our past MD candidates:

We are pleased that our medical students want to keep in touch with us and remain associated even after their doctoral thesis in GRK 2413.


Jonathan Hils

MD thesis title: Cholinergic modulation of learning from feedback

Start: 04.2021

Linked to: Project 13

Lena Haag

MD thesis title: Assessing the MTL volume and SN/VTA/LC integrity related to biomarkers of tau/amyloid in high- and low performing older adults

Start: 04.2020

Funding-Period: 10.2020 – 11.2021

Linked to: Project 12

Rieke Fritz

MD thesis title: Regulation of spine dynamics in mouse hippocampal neuron by BDNF and neuromodulatory transmitter signaling

Start: 10.2020

Funding-Period: 10.2020 – 09.2021

Linked to: Project 11

Maria Schmutzler

MD thesis title: The Impact of chronic mid-life stress on memory performance in aged mice

Start: 10.2020

Funding-Period: 10.2020 – 09.2021

Linked to: Project 11

Mark Bachurski

MD thesis title: ProCognito – Plant based natural products for the preservation of cognitive capabilities in old age

Start: 10.2020

Funding-Period: 10.2020 – 09.2021

Linked to: Project 4

Lara Kramer

MD thesis title: Influence of paracingulate morphology on cognitive function

Start: 10.2020

Funding-Period: 01.2021 – 09.2021

Linked to: Project 13

Shananthan Kethiswaran

MD thesis title: Influence of neural ageing on cGAS-STING pathway

Start: 11.2020

Funding-Period: 11.2020 – 10.2021

Linked to: Project 1

Melina Zschiesche

MD thesis title: Autoubiquitination in Praja1 and interaction of Ndnl2 and Praja1

Start: 10.2015

Funding Period: 01.2021- 05.2021

Linked to: Project 2

Alwin Hassler

MD thesis title: The influence of  polyamines on the synaptic plasticity of aging cortex neurons

Start: 10.2019

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: Project 1

Helene Arndt

MD thesis title: ProCognito – Plant based natural products for the preservation of cognitive capabilities in old age

Start: 10.2019

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: Project 4

Rebecca Boer

MD thesis title:Age-dependent role of the neurovascular unit in cerebrovascular diseases

Start: 10.2019

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: Project 5

Luisa Strackeljan

MD thesis title: Modulation of perineuronal nets and perisynaptic extracellular matrix by microglia in young and aged mouse brain

Start: 10.2019

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: project 6

Philipp Ulbrich

MD thesis title:Study of TIMP-3 expression, glia activation and perineuronal/perisynaptic ECM alterations in cerebral small vessel disease

Start: 10.2019

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: Project 7

Wilhelm Hussler

MD thesis title: Brain extracellular matrix proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and serum  of epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cerebral amyloid  angiopathy affected humans

Start: 11.2019

Funding-Period: 11.2019 – 01.2021

Linked to: Project 8

Sabrina Keiper

MD thesis title: Modulation of proteostasis in neurons and astrocytes byapplication of metformin and methotrexate

Start: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Funding-Period: 10.2019 – 12.2020

Linked to: Project 9