Neural circuit development and disease

Our aim is to understand how axonal pathways develop, why and how they are affected in neurodegenerative disease, and which therapeutic approaches can help to stall or reverse these pathogenic changes.

Our research focuses on the question how neuronal connections develop, with a particular emphasis of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. We study processes such as dendrite development, axon guidance and neuronal migration. We believe that understanding how neural circuits form will help to understand why they change in diseases of the nervous system. Regarding our translational studies we focus on motor neuron disease (ALS) and to some extent other neurodegenerative disorders, which are characterized by marked changes in neuronal connectivity. RNA biology (e.g. non-coding RNAs), (single cell) omics, mouse genetics, humanized cell models (iPSC, organoids, microfluidics), molecular cell biology, and (light sheet) microscopy play a central role in many of our projects.

Contact for internships

Prof. dr. Jeroen Pasterkamp: R.J.Pasterkamp@umcutrecht.nl

People

Name

Position

Jeroen Pasterkamp

Full professor

Vamshi VangoorAssistant professor
Pavol ZelinaPostdoctoral fellow
Eljo van BattumPostdoctoral fellow
Domino SchlegelPostdoctoral fellow
Suzy VarderidouPostdoctoral fellow
Kristel EigenhuisPostdoctoral fellow
Sofie PeetersPhD student
Kim SoesbergenPhD student
Marta Canizares LunaPhD student
Oxana GarritsenPhD student
Mayte MarsPhD student
Anna WiersemaPhD student
Laura WiegPhD student
Denise van der HeijdenPhD student
Nik HeijminkPhD student
Channa JakobsPhD student
Evgenia KokosaliPhD student
Carola KusserowPhD student
Willem NaertPhD student
Jonne EgginkPhD student
Roos VerdegaalPhD student
Youri AdolfsResearch technician/Microscopy facility manager
Marina de WitResearch technician
Mark BroekhovenResearch technician
Lauri BloemenkampResearch technician/iPSC facility manager
Sofia SitiResearch technician
Serife UysalResearch technician
Lars GalResearch technician

 

Publications