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Research summary

Signal transduction by neurotrophic factors

Neuroactive proteins and peptides play a key role both in nervous system homoeostasis and in pathological processes like inflammation, neurodegeneration and tumorigenesis. Our group is particularly interested in deciphering the function of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily during embryonic development and in the normal or lesioned adult nervous system. Our approach involves the generation and analysis of transgenic mouse models, tissue and (primary cell) cultures combined with state-of-the-art molecular biology methods and complemented by newest imaging techniques.

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