Project: Characterization and modulation of glial scar formation during retinal gliosis.
In the research group Experimental Ophthalmology (Prof. Dr. Volker Enzmann) there is an opening for a qualified student to pursue a PhD thesis in the field of neuroscience. The group's research interest is focused on endogenous stimulation of retinal tissue regeneration.
The project is centered on the modulation of glial scar formation during retinal reactive gliosis in two different animal models: zebrafish, with high regenerative capacity, and mouse, with low regenerative capacity. Scar formation in the central nervous system (CNS) is characterized primarily by reactive macroglia that produce collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) to form a barrier to protect the tissue from further damage. However, at a later stage gliosis becomes chronic exclusively in mammals, hindering a successful retinal regeneration. This process is also connected to the immune cell population in the retina. Therefore, possible interactions between the peripheral immune system and resident glial cells will be identified after injury.
Comparative cross-species analysis will reveal regulatory networks that would help to explain why some species, such as the zebrafish can regenerate, while others, such as the mice, cannot.