Objective A fundamental question in neuroscience is how individual synapses and neurons act in concert to create functional circuits. While the basic mechanisms of synaptic transmission between neurons are well understood, much less is known about how individual synapses, neurons, and circuits dynamically adjust their transmission properties in response to perturbations in network activity. During the past few years I have begun a new line of research: the regulation of neurotrophin vesicle release and its effect on synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. These discoveries come at a crucial time, given mounting evidence that BDNF and other neurotrophins and neuropeptides affect synaptic plasticity, while at the same virtually nothing is known about the regulation of their release and the mechanisms by which they affect synapse and circuit function. To continue this research I would like to form my own research group. I am interested in the mechanisms by which individual synapses and neurons respond to changes in activity to modify circuit function and ultimately behavior. I investigate the mechanisms of activity-dependent plasticity at three different levels: single synapses, single cells and neuronal networks, using a combination of manipulation of protein expression and function, biochemistry, electrophysiology and live imaging approaches in neuron cultures and brain slices. My overall goal is to understand how neurons communicate changes in activity to affect circuit function. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-ID1 - ERC Starting Grant Interdisciplinary Panel Call for proposal ERC-2010-StG_20091118 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN GOETTINGEN - GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAET GOETTINGEN - STIFTUNG OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS EU contribution € 1 484 000,00 Address Robert-Koch-Strasse 40 37075 Goettingen Germany See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Camin Dean (Dr.) Administrative Contact Christiane Hennecke (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN GOETTINGEN - GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAET GOETTINGEN - STIFTUNG OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS Germany EU contribution € 1 484 000,00 Address Robert-Koch-Strasse 40 37075 Goettingen See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Camin Dean (Dr.) Administrative Contact Christiane Hennecke (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
