Human neuronal cell models

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We are especially interested in the research of  neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders with a focus on ADHD (attention-deficit-/hyperactivity disorder) and affective disorders (bipolar affectiv disorders) using human derived cell models.

Aims and research areas

We investigate cellular mechanisms of genetic variants associated with mental illness. As a human cell model, we use neuronal cells redifferentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells. We use skin samples, hair follicles or blood as starting tissue. On the one hand, we compare molecular processes in cells of patients with ADHD and Bipolar Affective Disorder with or without certain genetic variants in order to identify their molecular consequences in the respective patient group. And secondly, we compare molecular processes in cells from patients and subjects with the same genetic variant to identify their molecular consequences in different groups. In further studies, we are investigating the effect of drugs on the altered molecular processes.

Team

Head

• Dr. rer. nat. Rhiannon McNeill
  E-Mail: mcneill_r@ ukw.de

Co-Head

• Dr. Georg Ziegler
  E-Mail: ziegler_g@ ukw.de

Research associates

• Dr. med. Matthias Nieberler
• Dr. med. Franziska Radtke (KJP)
• PhD Candidate Zora Schickardt

Laboratory

• Nicole Döring

Current projects

• DFG Individual Research Grant: 
  ‘Investigating the role of diacylglycerol kinase eta in bipolar disorder and lithium response’
  PI: Dr Rhiannon McNeill 
  PhD Student: Deniz Gücsavas
   
• UNION-CVD
  Dr. Georg Ziegler

Publications

Publications of the working group can be found on pubmed (Dr. McNeill), on pubmed (Dr. Ziegler) or in the list of publications of our hospital.