Psychiatry International

Research Interests

Neurobiological basis of affective disorder, especially depression disorders using mice.

Research support

• DAAD - Ministry of Education, Ghana
• Laboratory for Translational Neuroscience (Prof. Dr. K.-P. Lesch)

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I have great interest in studying the role played by serotonin in the pathogenesis of Depression and Anxiety disorders. The myriad of contributions made in this field, with regards to research publications, by Prof. K.-P. Lesch and his research team made me consider University of Würzburg as the ideal destination for my study. I hope to increase my knowledge and understanding of neurobiology of affective disorders as I continue to work in the Laboratory for Translational Neuroscience, UoW.

Research Interests

Neural networks in the background of psychiatric disorders, psychiatric genetics

Research support

• Eat2beNICE EU

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I was coming to Würzburg to work more closely on a joint project of Prof. Lesch and EMBL. My aim is to examine how genetic variation (e.g. the copy number variation of the neural glucose Transporter) affect neural networks and behaviour like cognitive impulsivity. We are using in vitro and animal models to address this goal.

Research Interests

Social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of human cognitions

Psychophysiology of pathological learning and memory

Ethnicity & gender difference

Non-invasive brain stimulation methods (tDCS, TMS)

Research support

• GK Emotion

Reason for coming to Würzburg

To attain doctoral degree and to pursue the cutting edge research in the field of psychology and cognitive science.

In 2013, he received his PhD. in Life Science from University of Wuerzburg. In 2014, he joined Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Mackenzie Presbyterian University (Brazil) as a postdoctroal research fellow. In 2016, he started his second postdoctoral research position at Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (India). In 2017, he started teaching “Cognitive Science” in an Engineering Institute (India) as an assistant professor.

In 2019, he moved to the Department of Psychology, Southwest University (China) as an associate professor. He researches pathological learning and memory, non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS, TMS), and social-cognitive aspects of human cognitions. Other highly interesting fields of research to him were investigations of early biomarkers for anxiety and related disorders, e.g. startle, skin conductance response (SCR), heart-rate variability, blood pressure, etc. for the assessment of early detection of anxiety or related disorders. He can be contacted at AsthanaKM (at) gmail (dot) com.

Research Interests

Molecular neurobiology and metabolism of neurodevelopmental disorders (such as ADHD). 
Stem cell metabolism and function. 

Research support

• DAAD and DFG

Reason for coming to Würzburg

Würzburg presents an exceptional opportunity for me to pursue a research project focused on neurobiology and metabolism of neurodevelopmental disorders as an undergraduate researcher. I am eager to learn from the brilliant scientific community and diverse projects in Würzburg, so this is a great opportunity for me to deepen my passion for research, expand my knowledge, and experience both personal and professional growth. I am also very excited to explore the beautiful city of Würzburg. 

Research Interests

I'm passionate about Fundamental Neuroscience, exploring the brain's physiological and molecular mechanisms. My research spans healthy and neurodevelopmentally disordered subjects, employing stem cells and cellular models for psychiatric disorders. I'm committed to unlocking the brain's mysteries for better solutions and improved lives.

Research support

• Marie Curie-funded Ph.D. fellowship from the European Government

• Eat2beNICE EU

• Serotonin & Beyond EU

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I chose Wuerzburg for the invaluable opportunity to collaborate with top-tier professors in Europe, fostering a broad academic network with universities in Europe.

Research Interests

Neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, behavioral study of animal models for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Research support

• Doctoral fellowship from the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS), University of Würzburg

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I was looking for an international environment that would focus on collaborative and integrative work in the molecular and cellular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. For this reason I decided to join Prof. Lesch’s group, since its research interests are of great interest to me, and it places great importance in woking together with other research groups in Europe and though out the world.

Research Interests

Mouse models of psychiatric diseases (such as ADHD), cellular neurobiology, optogenetics as a method of manipulation of behaviour, disorders associated with the disruption of the serotoninergic system.

Research support

• Research Support
• GK2660-B3 DFG

Reason for coming to Würzburg

The opportunity to perform my PhD project in the laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry is a chance to learn widely used wet lab methods and novel methods of optogenetics.

Research Interests

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders (such as ADHD, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, clinical depression).

Delineating the genetic basis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Research support

• Fulbright U.S Student Programm

Reason for coming to Würzburg

Dr. McNeill's lab is conducting research that is highly relevant to my interests within the field of neurobiology. I will be involved in a project that allows me to investigate the capabilities of iPSCs as a modeling tool for neuropsychiatric disorders (such as ADHD), supported through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. I am excited to further my knowledge in the field of neurobiology and to learn more about German language and culture as well during my stay.

Research Interests

Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, Developmental Neuroscience, Gene x Environment interactions, Epigenetics

Research support

• SFB TRR 58
• Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (ISAO)

Reason for coming to Würzburg

As a collaboration between Maastricht University (The Netherlands) and the University of Würzburg, Daniël van den Hove is investigating the role of gene x environment interactions, and their underlying epigenetic mechanisms, in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric disorders like major depression, panic disorder and Alzheimer's disease.

Research Interests

Currently we are working on a project that joined three south-eastern Europe countries (Bosnia and Herzegowina, Croatia and Kosovo) with Wuerzburg. The present project for the first time aims at an integrative investigation of the role of MAO-A related (epi-)genetic variation in the pathogenesis of PTSD and/or the biological mediation of traumatic events. Further my interests reaches into the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

Research support

• DAAD
• Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center Sarajevo

Reason for coming to Würzburg

Wuerzburg is a city that inspires regarding its geography and people like our colleagues at the clinic  for psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatic who do such inspiring research. Our conjoined research project has given me the opportunity to get an insight into basic research, to get to know new areas of medicine and to change my view on pathogenesis of psychiatric diagnosis especially on PTSD, which people usually relate just to an traumatic event thinking that biology is not involved. I have learned a lot about people, how a larger group of different persons from different places can work together with the goal to make steps forward into understanding the multidimensionality of psychiatric disorders. Our research focus have been people who suffered trauma that did or did not develop PTSD afterwards and how their genetic constitution affects the development of symptoms. My own focus has been the genetic of epigenetic of two interesting genes: the OXTR and BDNF gene and first results regarding those two are just about to be announced. Being in Wuerzburg, attending spring schools, being a part of a research project with the Wuerzburg team has been an extremely motivating time for me personally and professionally. I keep such beautiful memories and I hope that we will have the opportunity to work together on new research projects and ideas.

Research Interests

Cellular neurobiology, the mouse as an animal model for psychiatric diseases (such as ADHD), role of cell adhesion proteins in brain development and function

Research support

• Postdoctoral Fellowship from the government of Spain

Reason for coming to Würzburg

It is a great opportunity for me to enrich my scientific background in neurobiology, and also to enjoy the beautiful city of Würzburg.

Research Interests

Genetics of inherited diseases. I had worked at Nagasaki University Hospital, Japan, as a researcher as well as a clinical doctor in psychiatry. During working in Japan, I have researched the genetics of several diseases such as paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, schizophrenia and autistic spectrum disorders.

Research support

• Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• SENSHIN Medical Research Foundation
• SFB TR 58

Reason for coming to Würzburg

As a collaboration between Nagasaki University and the University of Wuerzburg on the genetics of anxiety disorders and schizophrenia.

Publication

Morimoto Y, Shimada-Sugimoto M, Otowa T, Yoshida S, Kinoshita A, Mishima H, Yamaguchi N, Mori T, Imamura A, Ozawa H, Kurotaki N, Ziegler C, Domschke K, Deckert J, Umekage T, Tochigi M, Kaiya H, Okazaki Y, Tokunaga K, Sasaki T, Yoshiura KI, Ono S.  Whole-exome sequencing and gene-based rare variant association tests suggest that PLA2G4E might be a risk gene for panic disorder. Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 2;8(1):41. doi: 10.1038/s41398-017-0088-0.

Research Interests

Molecular neurobiology, cellular communication, neurosciences, epigenetics, 2D or 3D culture of neuronal cells

Research support

• Eat2beNICE EU
• GK2660-B3 DFG

Reason for coming to Würzburg

The opportunity to learn Induced Pluripotent Stem cell derived neuronal culture and to use them in order to better understand some brain´s mechanisms.

Research Interests

• social modulation effect on anxiety / fear 

Research support

• DAAD-CSC

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I am interested in Prof. Hein's research direction. And I have joined Prof. Hein's lab in 2018 as a visiting students during my PhD. It was a wonderful experience. So, after graduation, I come here again for my Post-Doctoral research.

Research Interests

Neurobiology, neuropharmacology of emotional and cognitive disturbances associated with stress, dietary interventions, genetic manipulations and neurodegeneration, in various mouse models.

Research support

• SFB TRR 58

Reason for coming to Würzburg

Fortification of the synergy effects of various projects

Research Interests

neurobiology, psychophysiology, and pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders

Research support

• doctoral fellowship from the DAAD

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I came to Würzburg as a guest scientist to gain experience in electrophysiology as part of a collaboration with the Moscow State Medical University. I'm interested in neurodevelopmental disorders, especially attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Conducting my Ph.D. studies as part of Prof. Lesch's research group is a great experience and opportunity to gain new insights into this field.

Research Interests

• Multimodal brain imaging (EEG, MEG, fMRI)
• Intergroup relationship
• Social learning

Research support

• DFG

Reason for coming to Würzburg

I joined Prof. Grit Hein's group as a postdoctoral researcher since we share multiple research interests. My PhD thesis focused on the intergroup modulation on face perception, in Würzburg, I could move beyond my research focus from face perception to learning process and do cutting edge research with a group of wonderful scientists. Besides, Würzburg is a beautiful city.

Publication

Zhou, Y., Gao, T., Zhang, T., Li, W., Wu, T., Han, X., & Han, S. (2020). Neural dynamics of racial categorization predicts racial bias in face recognition and altruism. Nature human behaviour, 4(1), 69-87.

Research Interests

• Kaja is interested in the effects of herbicide exposure on the general population, as well as their impact on health and possible bioaccumulation in the human body.
• Alicja is performing metallomic analysis of the human eye and selected brain parts associated with vision.
• Ryszard is researching the use of the niacin skin flush test in mental disorder diagnostics.

Research support

• Erasmus+

Reason for coming to Würzburg

• In Summer 2023 the Centre for Mental Health hosted three early career researchers from Lublin, Poland, as part of the Erasmus+ Student Mobility program. Ryszard Sitarz, Kaja Karakula and Alicja Forma spent 9 days in the laboratory learning various research techniques, including pyrosequencing, laser microdissection and cell culture.