Helmholtz Zentrum Munich

Helmholtz Zentrum München studies the pathogenesis of major common diseases, placing special emphasis on diabetes mellitus, lung diseases and allergies. The focus of research is on the interaction between environmental and lifestyle factors and individual genetic predisposition
in disease development. With its excellent basic research programs and top-level scientific and technical infrastructure, the Center develops innovative approaches to personalized diagnostics, therapy, and prevention.

Helmholtz Zentrum München is a research institution of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Free State of Bavaria. As a member of Germany's largest scientific research organization, the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, it is dedicated to pursuing long-term research goals to solve the urgent challenges facing society.

The Center currently has a staff of more than 2300 people working in the various scientific institutes and research units. Through translational research centers, clinical cooperation groups and collaborations with industry, basic research is linked to clinical applications, thus enabling advances in knowledge to bring about rapid benefits to society.

Helmholtz Zentrum München participates in all six German Centres of Health Research. On the national, international and regional level it is an important partner in excellent collaborations with science and industry. Joint Graduate Schools and the first international Graduate School Environmental Health (HELENA) offer outstanding training opportunities for the advancement of young scientists.

Team Lead

Name
Professor Wolfgang Wurst – Developmental Genetics

Members

Name
Young Investigator Sabrina C Desbordes – Stem Cells in Neural Development

Alumni

Name
Alumni Dr. Andrea Huber Brösamle – Neuroscience
Alumni Professor Reinhard W. Köster – Zebrafish Neurogenetics and Bioimaging
Alumni Professor Chichung Lie – Molecular Medicine / Molecular Imaging

Publications
Desbordes SC and Studer L Corresponding author (2013) Adapting human pluripotent stem cells to high-throughput and high-content screening Nature Protocols , 8(1), Adapting human pluripotent stem cells to high-throughput and high-content screening, 111-30 PDF (1.18 MB)
Schultz, S.S., Desbordes, S.C., Du, Z., Kosiyatrakul, S., Lipchina, I., Studer, L. (2010) Single-molecule analysis reveals changes in the DNA replication program for the POU5F1 locus upon human embryonic stem cell differentiation Molecular Cell Biology, 30(18), Single-molecule analysis reveals changes in the DNA replication program for the POU5F1 locus upon human embryonic stem cell differentiation, 4521-34 PDF (4.28 MB)
Bussmann LH1, Schubert A, Vu Manh TP, De Andres L, Desbordes SC, Parra M, Zimmermann T, Rapino F, Rodriguez-Ubreva J, Ballestar E, Graf T. (2009) A robust and highly efficient immune cell reprogramming system Cell Stem Cell, 5(5), A robust and highly efficient immune cell reprogramming system, 554-66 PDF (1.49 MB)
Placantonakis DG, Tomishima MJ, Lafaille F, Desbordes SC, Jia F, Socci ND, Viale A, Lee H, Harrison N, Studer L, Tabar VS. (2009) Enriched motor neuron populations derived from bacterial artificial chromosome-transgenic human embryonic stem cells Clin Neurosurg. , 56 , Enriched motor neuron populations derived from bacterial artificial chromosome-transgenic human embryonic stem cells, 125-32 PDF (2.17 MB)
Placantonakis, D.G., Tomishima, M.J., Lafaille, F., Desbordes, S.C., Jia, F., Socci, N.D., Viale, A., Lee, H., Harrison, N., Tabar, V. and Studer, L. (2009) BAC transgenesis in human embryonic stem cells as a novel tool to define the human neural lineage Stem Cells, 27(3), BAC transgenesis in human embryonic stem cells as a novel tool to define the human neural lineage, 521-32 PDF (1.94 MB)
Enard W et al. (2009) A humanized version of Foxp2 affects cortico-basal ganglia circuits in mice Cell , 137(5), A humanized version of Foxp2 affects cortico-basal ganglia circuits in mice, 961-71 PDF (704 KB)
Wizenmann A, et al (2009) Extracellular Engrailed participates in the topographic guidance of retinal axons in vivo Neuron. , 64(3), Extracellular Engrailed participates in the topographic guidance of retinal axons in vivo, 355-66 PDF (1.45 MB)
Collins F, et al. (2007) A mouse for all reasons Cell , 128(1), A mouse for all reasons, 9-13 PDF (237 KB)
Prakash N, et al. (2006) A Wnt1-regulated genetic network controls the identity and fate of midbrain-dopaminergic progenitors in vivo Development , 133(1), A Wnt1-regulated genetic network controls the identity and fate of midbrain-dopaminergic progenitors in vivo, 89-98 PDF (3.78 MB)
Muller MB, et al. (2003) Limbic corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 mediates anxiety-related behavior and hormonal adaptation to stress Nature Neuroscience, 6(10), Limbic corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 mediates anxiety-related behavior and hormonal adaptation to stress, 1100-7 PDF (933 KB)
Desbordes, S.C. and Sanson, B. (2003) The glypican Dally-like is required for Hedgehog signalling in the embryonic epidermis of Drosophila Development , 130(25), The glypican Dally-like is required for Hedgehog signalling in the embryonic epidermis of Drosophila, 6245-55. PDF (385 KB)
Refojo, D.* ; Schweizer, M.* ; Kuehne, C.* ; Ehrenberg, S.* ; Thoeringer, C.* ; Vogl, A.M.* ; Dedic, N.* ; Schumacher, M.* ; von Wolff, G.* ; Avrabos, C.* ; Touma, C.* ; Engblom, D.* ; Schütz, G.* ; Nave, K.A.* ; Eder, M.* ; Wotjak, C.T.* ; Sillaber, I.* (2011) Glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons mediate anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects of CRHR1 Science , 333, Glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons mediate anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects of CRHR1., 1903-7.
Wefers, B. ; Meyer, M. ; Ortiz, O. ; Hrabě de Angelis, M. ; Hansen, J. ; Wurst, W. ; Kühn, R. (2013) Direct production of mouse disease models by embryo microinjection of TALENs and oligodeoxynucleotides. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. , 110, Direct production of mouse disease models by embryo microinjection of TALENs and oligodeoxynucleotides., 3782-7