Site Bonn
With regards to its future development in the Bonn-Cologne-Jülich region, the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) will benefit from well-established science and research partners already in the area. These include the departments of neurology and psychiatry at the University Hospital Bonn, both of which are renowned for their excellence in research and treatment of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease. The Department of Epileptology performs top-quality research into neural connections. Genetic medicine and epidemiology of neurodegenerative disturbances are another strong research area where, in line with DZNE’s focus on population and clinical epidemiology, the aim is to understand associated risk factors and develop new, early-diagnosis procedures. First-class basic research on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and stem cells is conducted at Bonn’s Venusberg clinics which make up the University Hospital.

In Cologne, research into Parkinson’s disease and new forms of treatment such as deep brain stimulation complement the clinical research objectives in Bonn. The cluster of excellence for geriatric research provides a key research platform on which to improve understanding of dementia in society and compare normal (healthy) and pathological ageing. The excellent imaging facilities being set up at the Research Centre Jülich also foster DZNE’s aim of providing new, advanced, non-invasive diagnosis procedures for neurodegenerative disease.
The research centre in Bonn will integrate existing diagnosis and treatment services provided at Bonn University Hospital into a dedicated dementia clinic. It will develop new diagnosis procedures which combine modern imaging technology (in cooperation with Research Centre Jülich) with new biochemistry procedures to allow examination of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins. A new information centre will serve as a national focal point for dependents who care for relatives suffering from neurodegenerative disease. Coordinated clinical work performed in Bonn will allow the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) which are indispensable in clinical examinations and tests. The creation of a national register for neurodegenerative disease and the introduction of EU-wide diagnosis and treatment standards are key to future treatment strategies. Clinical epidemiological studies and population studies will identify factors that harbour a heightened risk of neurodegeneration and those which are involved in normal ageing or age-related disease. Systems Medicine aims to develop holistic approaches to gain new insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To achieve this, we leverage data derived from high-throughput methods and combine them with knowledge derived from clinical and population-based data as well as fundamental-science driven findings.
Fundamental research conducted in the Bonn-Cologne-Jülich region will concentrate on the mechanisms involved in early neuronal damage. This will aid the discovery of new treatment approaches and provide conclusive findings on the mechanisms common to a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Particular attention will be paid to loss of neural connections and plasticity.
- StructureProf. Dr. Dr. Monique M. B. Bretelermonique.breteler@dzne.deDirector of Population Health Sciences+49 228 43302-929Prof. Dr. Thomas Klockgetherthomas.klockgether@dzne.deDirector for Clinical Research & Site Representative at the Strategy Board+49 228 43302-835
- Research Groups
Population & Clinical Neuroepidemiology
Dr. Dr. Ahmad AzizAgeing and Neurodegeneration
Dr. Daniele BanoMolecular Immunology in Neurodegeneration
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Marc BeyerAxon Growth and Regeneration
Prof. Dr. Frank BradkeRhineland Study
Prof. Dr. Dr. Monique M. B. BretelerImmunoregulation
Dr. Melania CapassoNeurodegeneration and Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease
Prof. Donato Di MonteDemographic Studies
Prof. Dr. Gabriele DoblhammerMolecular and Cellular Cognition
Dr. Dan EhningerSystems Phenomics
Dr. Eugenio FavaNeuroimmunology and Imaging
Dr. Martin FuhrmannMicroglia and Neuroinflammation
Dr. Annett HallePharmacoepidemiology in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Britta HänischExperimental Neurophysiology
Prof. Dr. Dirk IsbrandtPatient Studies
Prof. Dr. Thomas KlockgetherFunctional Diversity of Neural Circuits (from 10/01/2020)
Dr. Sabine KrabbeStructural Principles of Neurodegeneration
Prof. Dr. Eckhard MandelkowCell and Animal Models of Neurodegeneration
Dr. Eva-Maria MandelkowStatistics and Machine Learning
Dr. Sach MukherjeeSynaptic Connectivity and Neurodegeneration
Prof. Dr. Dr. Pierluigi NicoteraVascular Neurology
Prof. Dr. Gabor PetzoldNeuronal Networks
Prof. Dr. Stefan RemyImage Analysis
Prof. Dr. Martin ReuterNeonatal Neuroscience
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Hemmen SabirNuclear Function in CNS pathophysiology
Prof. Dr. Paolo SalomoniTranslational Dementia Research
Prof. Dr. Anja SchneiderUnited Epigenomic Plattform
Prof. Dr. Joachim L. SchultzeMR Physics
Prof. Dr. Tony StöckerNeuronal Circuits Dynamics
Prof. Dr. Gaia TavosanisPrion Cell Biology
Prof. Dr. Ina VorbergCooperation Units:
Prof. Dr. Henning Boecker
University Hospital Bonn
Leader Clinical Functional NeuroimagingProf. Dr. Michael Heneka
University Hospital Bonn
Director of the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and GerontopsychiatryProf. Dr. Frank Jessen
University Hospital Cologne
Director Clinic of Psychiatry and PsychotherapyProf. Dr. Eicke Latz
University Hospital Bonn
Director of Institute of Innate ImmunityProf. Dr. Michael Wagner
University Hospital Bonn
Leading Psychologist at Clinic for Psychatry and PsychotherapyProf. Dr. Ullrich Wüllner
University Hospital Bonn
Leader Genebank Parkinson´s disease (GEPARD) - Address and Map
Administration & Board
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e. V. (DZNE)
Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99
(formerly Sigmund-Freud-Straße 27)
53127 BonnHouse 99 on the campus of the university hospital on the Venusberg in Bonn.
Site plan of the entire campus.Direction 1
- BAB 565 until exit Bonn-Poppelsdorf
- At the second traffic light turn right into Argelanderstraße and follow the signs to "Uni-Kliniken"
- Drive through the barriers at the main entrance to the university hospital
- Keep right at the roundabout
- Parking in the multi-storey car park south
Direction2
- B 42 / BAB 562
- Over Konrad Adenauer bridge on B9 direction Bonn-Innenstadt
- At the Bundeskanzlerplatz keep left and follow the signs to "Uni-Kliniken"
- Drive through the barriers at the main entrance to the university hospital
- Keep right at the roundabout
- Parking in the multi-storey car park south
Arrival by bus and train
- Timetable information: Bus and train VRS
- Bus lines: 601, 630, 632
- Stop: Uniklinikum Süd, Bonn-Venusberg
Alternative: Bus line 600 and 602 stop at 'Uniklinikum Nord', Bonn-Venusberg