Animal Models of Psychiatric Disease

The focus of my team is on cognition and how it is affected by neuropsychiatric ailments, such as depression. We study maladaptation of synapses and circuitry brought about by unique molecular signatures in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Profile image of Sabine Spijker

Principal Investigators

Sabine Spijker
Read more about Animal Models of Psychiatric Disease

Dementia Science

Our goal is to understand the specific molecular, cellular and network adaptations that occur in the brain in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s diseasse, and to test how these adaptations can be used for early disease diagnosis and intervention.

Profile image of Ronald van Kesteren

Principal Investigators

Ronald van Kesteren
Read more about Dementia Science

Glial Regulated Neuronal Plasticity

Our research aims to discover new glial-based mechanisms of information processing in the brain in health and disease, with a focus on the role of astrocytes in the regulation of myelin and synaptic plasticity.

Profile image of Mark Verheijen

Principal Investigators

Mark Verheijen
Read more about Glial Regulated Neuronal Plasticity

Memory Circuits

Our goal is to gain mechanistic insight into the neural circuitry, cells and molecules that support persistent memories of negative and positive experiences.

Profile image of Michel van den Oever

Principal Investigators

Michel van den Oever
Read more about Memory Circuits

Molecular Engrams

The main goal of my research team is to identify the bio-molecular framework on which aversive associative memories are built and maintained throughout their lifetime.

Profile image of Priyanka Rao-Ruiz

Principal Investigators

Priyanka Rao-Ruiz
Read more about Molecular Engrams

Neuroproteomics

My Neuroproteomics team aims to (1) describe the protein complex nano-machinery that underlies synapse function and plasticity, and (2) reveal the alteration of synapse/tissue proteomes in cases of neuro-degenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Mass spectrometry based quantitative proteomics analysis is the leading technology behind these studies.

Profile image of Ka Wan Li

Other leadership

Ka Wan Li
Read more about Neuroproteomics

Addiction

My aim is to unravel the neurobiological mechanisms underlying drug addiction with a particular focus on relapse mechanisms related to alcohol and nicotine. These studies have a strong multidisciplinary character and include behavioural analysis, proteomics, neurophysiology and opto- and chemogenetic approaches.

Profile image of Taco de Vries

Other leadership

Taco de Vries
Read more about Addiction

Axon Regeneration

The overall objective of the Laboratory for Neuroregeneration is to unravel the biological mechanisms that govern successful regeneration in the PNS and that underlie degeneration and regenerative failure in the CNS. The primary long-term research objective is to make significant contributions to the field of restorative neuroscience and neurology.

Profile image of Joost Verhaagen

Other leadership

Joost Verhaagen
Read more about Axon Regeneration

Synapse Gene Mapping

Together with the SynGO consortium, we are helping to create an expert-curated knowledge database with information about genes expressed in the synapse, their involvement in biological processes and interaction partners. We aim to add information to the database from our own high-throughput molecular experiments. The low amount of false positives will enable us to perform meaningful and reliable pathway analyses that can aid research into synaptopathies such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. In addition, my team also focuses on innovative ways to maintain the quality of education with a growing student population.

Profile image of Loek van der Kallen (FGA)

Other leadership

Loek van der Kallen (FGA)
Read more about Synapse Gene Mapping