Anne von Philipsborn’s research: Drosophila circuit neuroscience and behavioral genetics laboratory

How does the nervous system generate and control behavior? Neuronal circuits record, categorise and integrate sensory input, store information and coordinate motor output. Dissecting the basic mechanisms by which ensembles of neurons perform these various computational tasks is a pivotal aspect for understanding brain function in health and disease.

The fruitfly Drosophila has a small nervous system, yet it performs a wide range of complex behaviours. Many features are shared with vertebrate brains. Neuronal circuits in the fly can be analysed at the cellular and molecular level with sophisticated genetic tools, making it a model organism of choice for circuit neuroscience.

Anne von Philipsborn‘s research has mainly focused on male courtship behaviour. During courtship, male flies send an acoustic signal, the courtship song, by extending and vibrating one wing toward the female. She could identify sex-specific neurons which control and shape this behavior (von Philipsborn, A.C., Liu, T., Yu, J.Y., Masser, C., Bidaye, S.S., and Dickson, B.J. (2011). Neuronal control of Drosophila courtship song. Neuron 69, 509-522). Future work on this model behaviour and its underlying neuronal circuit will address general mechanisms for motor pattern generation, the development of sexual dimorphisms as well as sensorimotor integration and decision making.

Furthermore, Dr. Philipsborn is interested in engaging in new collaborations at Aarhus University and in employing Drosophila as a model system for understanding molecular and cellular aspects of neurodegenerative disease.

Research interests
Drosophilacircuit neuroscience; behavioural genetics; sensory integration and motor control; animal communication, action selection and decision making; neuroanatomy and development of sexual dimorphisms in the nervous system; role of neuromodulation in circuit function and behavior.

Human pluripotent stem cell derived neurosphere
differentiated into neurons in vitro using a small
molecule induction system (Denham et al., Stem Cells, 2012). Green = TUJ1, Blue = DNA dye DAPI.

Mark Denham’s research: Human pluripotent stem cell laboratory

Pluripotent stem cell biology is one of the most rapidly advancing areas of medical research. The advancements are both in the types of cells being generated and their application for research and clinical purposes. The derivation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has further accelerated this progress with new opportunities now available to develop human in vitro models for studying diseases and as such, opening new potential treatment strategies in the form of cell replacement therapies and drug development.

Mark Denham’s main interest is to use human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to study how the nervous system develops and the processes involved in neurodegeneration. In particular, he is interested in the specification of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, the major cell type affected in Parkinson’s disease. He has developed a highly efficient protocol for generating mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons and his goal is to use this system as an in vitro model for studying the mechanisms that underlie the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, he is also interested in investigating how these neural progenitors survive and function after transplantation in an adult rodent brain.

Research interests
Investigating the signalling pathways required for the specification of precise neural cell types from the pluripotent state. Developing human iPS cells as in vitro models of diseases, in particular for Parkinson’s disease. Using optogenetics to study the in vivo capacity for human neural progenitors derived from iPS cells to functionally integrate into an adult rodent brain.