Alexander Dityatev

Research Group Leader of Molecular Neuroplasticity at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

Our research aims 1) to uncover novel mechanisms by which the extracellular matrix (ECM) controls synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and cognition, with a particular interest to the role of ECM in spatial navigation, cognitive flexibility and long-term memory consolidation; 2) to generate new tools for neural ECM research, which would allow to bidirectionally regulate and visualize in vivo expression of major ECM forms associated with inhibitory and excitatory neurons; 3) to characterize how dysregulations in expression and posttranslational modifications of ECM molecules (e.g., hyaluronic acid, chondroitin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans), their receptors and ectoproteinases (integrins, neurotrypsin, the ADAMTS family) are linked to neuroinflammation, synaptic and cognitive dysfunctions in major neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases; 4) to develop new ECM- and extrasynaptic signaling-targeting therapeutic strategies and ECM-related biomarkers to control ECM targeting efficacy in relationship with restoration of synaptic and cognitive functions.

Keywords: extracellular matrix – cell adhesion – synaptic plasticity – synaptogenesis – neurodegeneration

Location: DZNE, OVGU (FME)

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