Prof. Dr. Florence Bareyre

Primary research focus:
Cellular & Systems Neuroscience

Second research focus:
Molecular & Developmental Neuroscience

Third research focus:
Biomedical Neuroscience

Research focus: Traumatic, ischemic and inflammatory lesions to the spinal cord lead to the transection of descending and ascending axonal tract systems. If these lesions are complete – i.e. if all axons in the spinal cord are transected – severe and persistent functional deficits ensue. If however, the lesions are incomplete and some axonal tracts are spared, some recovery of function can be observed. We are studying the anatomical, functional and molecular mechanisms underlying the recovery process in an attempt to develop new therapeutic strategies that can support spinal cord repair in neurological disease caused by trauma, ischemia or inflammation.

Over the recent years we have used the rodent corticospinal tract – a major descending motor pathway – to study how axonal connections remodel in response to injury. We could identify the de novo formation of intraspinal detour circuits as a key remodelling process that mediates recovery of function. We are currently using (i) anterograde, retrograde and trans-synaptic tracing techniques in combination with confocal microscopy to reveal the anatomy of spinal detour circuits, (ii) genetic and pharmacological manipulations to dissect the molecular interactions that regulate detour circuit formation and (iii) electrophysiological recordings and behavioural testing to assess effects on functional recovery.

Key words: spinal cord injury, axonal plasticity, gene therapy, rehabilitation

GSN students

• Current: Fritz Kagerer, Adna Smajkan, Maryam Chahin
• Graduated: Dr. Kristina Loy, Dr. Laura Empl, Dr. Almir Aljovic, Dr. Carmen Denecke Muhr, Dr. Charlene Granier

Selected publications:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0917-1725