People

Group Leader

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Albrecht Stroh

Head of Research Group “Molecular Imaging and Optogenetics”
Head of the “Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)"
Speaker, Initative for Systems Analysis in Neuroscience (ISyN)

Institute of Pathophysiology
University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 06131 39-21347
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: albrecht.stroh@unimedizin-mainz.de;

&

Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) gGmbH
Wallstrasse 7
55122 Mainz, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)6131 89448-77
E-Mail: albrecht.stroh@lir-mainz.de

Curriculum Vitae

Staff

Roberta Guimaraes Backhaus, PhD

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: roberta.guimaraes-backhaus@lir-mainz.de

Lab Manager

Education

Doctorate in Biophysics/Neurosciences, Neurogenesis Laboratory and Neurochemistry Laboratory Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Master degree in Biophysics/Neuroscience, Neurogenesis Laboratory, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Bachelor degree in Biomedicine - Biomedical Centro Universitário Barão de Mauá, CBM, Ribeirao Preto - SP, Brazil

Dirk Cleppien, PhD

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: dirk.cleppien@lir-mainz.de

Head of the MR Unit of the “Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)”

Education

Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) in Physics at the University of Mainz.

Diploma in Physics at the University of Mainz.

Former scientific positions

RG Translational Imaging, Department of NeuroImaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

Brain Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

RG Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

Scientific Interests

For brain research magnetic resonance tomography is one of the promising techniques investigating the influence of a cellular network to macroscale. For this, multimodal experimental setups have to be conducted. My research focus is to combine methods of magnetic resonance with other promising techniques like laser spectroscopy creating new insights into the living brain.

Hendrik Backhaus, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: hendrik.backhaus@lir-mainz.de

Head of the 2-Photon Microscopy Unit of the "Mainz Animal Imaging Center (MAIC)"

Education

Applied Physics (MSc), Hochschule RheinMain

Physikalische Technik (BSc), Hochschule RheinMain

Research interests

My main research interest is to determine the impact of distinct cortical processing to individual behavior by combining optical/optogenetic approaches, mainly two-photon and high-speed calcium imaging, with virtual reality systems.

With a background in applied physics I especially focus on the development of new technological methods to achieve promising approaches to unravel the different underlying processes in the brain.

Post Docs

Ting Fu, PhD

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: ting.fu@unimedizin-mainz.de

Education
PhD, molecular biology, at Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg. Thesis:

In vivo and in vitro studies on the expression and function of TFF peptides in the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Master of Engineering, biomedical engineering, at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg & Fachhochschule Anhalt.

Bachelor of Engineering, pharmacy engineering, at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China

Research Interests

Brain state changes along a continuum, the synchronized so called up-down state and desynchronized so called persistent state are the two predominant identified modes. Slow oscillations on population level in the brain are associated with up- down state transitions in individual cortical neurons.

The main aim of my study is to investigate how these two brain states impact spontaneous activity in the cortical microcircuit. Furthermore to explore the brain-state dependence of local excitability and connectivity. Fluorometric Ca2+ recordings of neural activity represent a reliable method of recording slow-wave-associated Ca2+ transients. Combined optogenetic stimulation and optical recordings provide an approach to monitor and initiate slow wave activity, a local and specific interrogation of neuronal circuitry. The ability to individually target multiple neurons concurrently with patterned photostimulation is crucial for generating and manipulating natural patterns of activity in vivo. Now by implementing an all-optical-physiology approach, providing simultaneous two-photon imaging and patterned optogenetic stimulation, I can investigate causal features of the generation of slow oscillation-associated Ca2+ waves in the in vivo mouse brain.

Wei Fan, PhD

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: wei.fan@lir-mainz.de

Education

PhD, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Master’s of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

Research assistant, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Bachelor’s of Science, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

Former scientific positions

Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany

PhD Students

Saleh Altahini, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: saleh.altahini@lir-mainz.de

Elena Andres, PhD Student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: elandres@uni-mainz.de

Education
Brain and Behavioral Sciences (M.Sc.), Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Biomedical Sciences (B.Sc.), Philipps University of Marburg

Research Interests

The ability to extinguish fear protects against the development of exaggerated and generalized fears. The aim of my project is to develop an extinction model in rodents that leads to better understanding of the role played by the dopamine system in memory consolidation after fear reduction. More precisely, I investigate the consolidation-related fMRI signatures and their influence on long-term reduction of fear. Furthermore, I focus on the role of spontaneous neural activity in the IL and its modulation by dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area.

Kira Engeroff, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: kira.engeroff@unimedizin-mainz.de

Education
Biology (B.Sc., M.Sc.) Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Research Interests

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model for multiple sclerosis. In EAE, neuronal hyperactivity was disvovered during the remission phase of the disease. The aim of my project is to understand better the consequences of this malfunction and to find ways to rebalance the cortical network.

Merve Ilhan, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: Merve.Ilhan@lir-mainz.de

Education
I studied psychology at the University of Mainz. For my master thesis I conducted a study on dopaminergic enhancement of extinction memory consolidation at the Neuroimaging Center in Mainz.

Research Interests

Currently I am working on a translational project. I am interested in exploring the neural basis of slow wave resting-state fMRI connectivity networks in humans and their possible linkage to resilience as well as neurodegenerative diseases.

Julian Merz, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: julian.merz@lir-mainz.de

Education
I recieved my master’s degree in anthropology with a focus on human genetics at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. For this, I investigated the stress-induced regulation of hippocampal and prefrontal microRNAs and the influence of antidepressants on their expression pattern in mice.

Research Interests

I am currently studying the effect of chronic sensory stimulation (a excessive exposure of light and sound) on the regulation of cortical and subcortical micronetworks, as well as its epigentic basis.

Nicolas Ruffini, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: nicolas.ruffini@lir-mainz.de

Education

Bioinformatics (M.Sc.), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Biology (B.Sc.), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Research Interests

Calcium Imaging Analysis enables researchers to track the activity of hundreds and thousands of neurons within the brains of living animals. However, analyzing this huge amount of data raises some difficulties. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer ITWM, I aim to improve and accelerate the analysis of calcium imaging data, starting with the automatic identification of neurons in the generated image files using deep learning. By optimizing and simplifying the application through user-friendly interfaces of the entire analysis pipeline, the effort and time required for Calcium Imaging Analyses can be drastically reduced and will also be less dependent on personal decisions.

Additionally, I aim to improve and standardize the analysis of calcium imaging data by creating a novel analysis pipeline. This analysis includes creation of networks, showing the activity and connectivity of neurons, heatmaps for the correlation and coverage of peaks between neurons and many other steps.

Both projects are part of the Initiative of System Analysis in Neurosciences ISyN, which aims to enhance and connect the manifold analyses of neurobiological data of different working groups at the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz.

Anna Wierczeiko, PhD student

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21368
FAX: +49 (0) 6131-39-21386
E-Mail: Anna Wierczeiko@lir-mainz.de

Education

Bioinformatics (M.Sc.), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Biology (B.Sc.), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Research Interests

Calcium Imaging Analysis enables researchers to track the activity of hundreds and thousands of neurons within the brains of living animals. However, analyzing this huge amount of data raises some difficulties. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer ITWM, I aim to improve and accelerate the analysis of calcium imaging data, starting with the automatic identification of neurons in the generated image files using deep learning. By optimizing and simplifying the application through user-friendly interfaces of the entire analysis pipeline, the effort and time required for Calcium Imaging Analyses can be drastically reduced and will also be less dependent on personal decisions.

Additionally, I aim to improve and standardize the analysis of calcium imaging data by creating a novel analysis pipeline. This analysis includes creation of networks, showing the activity and connectivity of neurons, heatmaps for the correlation and coverage of peaks between neurons and many other steps.

Both projects are part of the Initiative of System Analysis in Neurosciences ISyN, which aims to enhance and connect the manifold analyses of neurobiological data of different working groups at the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz.

Bachelor- / Masterstudents

Biological Technical Assistant (BTA)

Nuse Afahaene

Tel.: +49 (0) 6131-39-21351
FAX: +49 (0) 6131 39-21386
E-Mail: nuse.afahaene@lir-mainz.de

People

Group Leader

Staff

Post Docs

PhD Students

Bachelor- / Masterstudents

Biological Technical Assistant (BTA)

Research Assistant

Alumni