The Center for Brain Research

The Center for Brain Research is devoted to the advancement of translational neurosciences. Our studies on the properties and functions of the central nervous system in health and disease are helped by the thematic integration of six departments and two independent sections.

Our focus is on clinically relevant topics, including the mechanisms of acute and chronic pain (Department of Neurophysiology), immune surveillance of the nervous system (Department of Neuroimmunology), peroxisome-dependent malfunction of the nervous system (Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System), synaptic mechanisms of psychiatric and neurological diseases (Department of Molecular Neurosciences), synaptic mechanisms of learning and memory (Department of Neuronal Cell Biology) and the neuronal basis of cognitive functions (Department of Cognitive Neurobiology).

The work of independent research groups at the Center for Brain Research significantly extends the spectrum of our research expertise and blends innately with the Sections of Synapse Formation and Section of Bioelectronics. The latter section is devoted to the establishment of novel imaging methods.

The Center for Brain Research was founded in 2000 and devoted to moving together key research groups working on complementary aspects of neurological diseases. This was made possible by refurbishment of an emblematic building in the Medical University of Vienna, which, in 1862 was built on request of the pathologist Carl Rokitansky (1804-1878), and named the “Pathologisch-anatomisches und chemisches Institut”. For generations to come, the building accommodated the Institute for Pathology, including Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943) who discovered the blood groups. More recently, Oleh Hornykewicz led his institute here, where he discovered the loss of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s Disease and thus paved the way for the L-DOPA treatment of this disease.

Today, more than 110 researchers and support staff work together and form a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere at the Center.

For more information, please also see: http://cbr.meduniwien.ac.at

Team Lead

Name
Professor Tibor Harkany – Molecular Neurosciences

Members

Name
Dr. Igor Adameyko – Molecular Neurosciences
Dr Ruth Drdla-Schutting – Neurophysiology
Dr. Erik Keimpema – Molecular Neurosciences
Dr. Balint Lasztoczi – Cognitive Neurobiology