We decipher how neurons grow and regenerate their axons. From basic cellular mechanisms to in vivo growth and regeneration via pharmacological interventions and rehabilitation, we strive to understand these processes to aid the fight against neuro traumatic injuries and neurodegenerative disease.

Today on 06.02.26, Thorben Pietralla officially defended his doctoral thesis on the cytoskeletal changes during the maturation of hippocampal neurons. After a beautiful talk and some tough questions, we now finally get to call him Dr. Thorben! Of course he also received his traditional Doktorhut with lots of little memories of his time in the lab. Luckily, he will stay around for a bit as a Postdoc to form many more wonderful memories and do more exciting science. Big congrats Dr. Thorben! 

What else is going on?

Centrosomal microtubule nucleation regulates radial migration of projection neurons independently of polarization in the developing brain.
Vinopal S, Dupraz S, et al.

Neuronal maturation and axon regeneration: unfixing circuitry to enable repair.
Hilton BJ, et al.

Microtubule retrograde flow retains neuronal polarization in a fluctuating state.
Schelski M, Bradke F.

An active vesicle priming machinery suppresses axon regeneration upon adult CNS injury.
Hilton BJ, et al.

RhoA drives actin compaction to restrict axon regeneration and astrocyte reactivity after CNS injury.
Stern S, Hilton BJ, et al.

Axon Growth of CNS Neurons in Three Dimensions Is Amoeboid and Independent of Adhesions.
Santos TE, Schaffran B, et al.

ADF/Cofilin-Mediated Actin Turnover Promotes Axon Regeneration in the Adult CNS.
Tedeschi A, et al.

RhoA Controls Axon Extension Independent of Specification in the Developing Brain.
Dupraz S, et al.

High-resolution 3D imaging and analysis of axon regeneration in unsectioned spinal cord with or without tissue clearing.
Hilton BJ, et al.