Nerve Regeneration
Prof. Dr. Helen Morrison
Group Leader
We are interested in the processes of nerve regeneration, the nature of cell communication, and the mis-wiring of signaling pathways in disease and in the aging process.
Overview
How Damaged Cells Recover
We focus on age-dependent signaling impairments underlying nervous system maintenance and regeneration, and in disease mechanisms for disorders of myelinating cells and nervous system tumors. These disease areas represent a great medical need and our work aims to perform translational work in each area. We use a multidisciplinary approach that includes structural, cellular and mouse models.
Key Findings
We study the tight control of the activation state of small GTPases; these proteins are central to many key biological processes. Our interest in small GTPases was prompted by an observation that members of a family of actin-binding proteins – the tumor suppressor protein neurofibromin 2 (merlin) and the putative tumor promoters ezrin, radixin and moesin (ERM) – act as counterplayers in Ras activation. Merlin is inhibitory, while the ERM proteins appear to enhance Ras activity. These regulatory structures present a novel aspect in the type of signal transduction relevant in cancer and in all physiological processes involving Ras.
More About Us
Insights
Lab News
Enabling healthy aging: Leopoldina discussion paper recommends paradigm shift in research and medicine
Aging is the biggest risk factor for developing diseases like cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease. However, as the biology of aging is becoming better understood, early approaches to geroprotection - interventions that aim to slow aging and reduce age-related disease risks - are beginning to emerge, with the potential to help people stay healthier for longer. The discussion paper published by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina therefore calls for a paradigm shift in research and medicine with a stronger focus on aging itself. This approach is also supported by the Leibniz Research Alliance “Resilient Aging” (LRA-RA) and the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena.
"Young Investigator Award"
Georgia Daraki, a scientist from the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) Jena, has won the "Young Investigator Award" (YIA) from the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF). This award includes a two-year fellowship for her work on "Exploring the Interplay between Lipid Metabolism and LZTR1 in Peripheral Nerve Pathologies".
DGfA meeting with overwhelming response
From June 29-30, 2023, the annual meeting of the DGfA took place in Jena. With 3 fantastic keynote speakers, a selection of short talks, numerous interesting posters and the chance for networking and socializing, this meeting offered the over 170 international participants many opportunities for scientific discussions.
Preclinical research on nerve tumors – Federal Ministry funds research network
Schwannomas are tumors of the peripheral nervous system, which often occur in the genetic disease neurofibromatosis type 2. The research group of Prof. Dr. Helen Morrison at the Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena, Germany, identified a compound that inhibits the growth of such tumors and improves nerve function. In a new project, the group will now conduct a multi-center preclinical study together with three German partners. The BMBF is funding this step towards a therapeutic application with a grant of 1.45 million euro over 3 years.
