André Fischer

Ph.D., Laboratory for Aging and Cognitive diseases

• 2002: Dr. rer. nat.(PhD). University Goettingen/Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Germany
  

• 2003-2006: Postdoctoral Associate in the lab of Li-Huei Tsai; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, USA; Picower Center for Learning and Memory, M.I.T, Cambridge, USA

Major Research Interests:

André Fischer

Our group aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory processes under physiological and pathological conditions. To this end we combine molecular, biochemical, pharmacological and behavioral approaches using mice as model organisms.

We are particularly interested to understand cognitive impairment associated with normal aging as well as the pathogenesis of mental and neurodegenerative diseases, such as anxiety disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

Using animal models we deeply aim to identify therapeutic strategies that would help to reinstate neuroplasticity, learning behavior and the retrieval of lost long-term memories in patients suffering form such devastating diseases.

Address:
European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen
Laboratory for Aging and Cognitive diseases
Grisebachstr. 5

37077 Göttingen
Germany

phone: +49 551 39 10378
fax: +49 551 39 9836
e-mail:

Further Information:
European Neuroscience Institute

Selected Recent Publications:

Fischer A, Sananbenesi F, Wang X, Dobbin M, Tsai LH (2007). Recovery of learning and memory is associated with chromatin remodelling. Nature 447:178-82. Epub 2007 Apr 29.

Kim D, Nguyen MD, Dobbin MM, Fischer A, Sananbenesi F , Rodgers JT, Delalle I, Baur JA, Sui G, Armour S, Puigserver P, Sinclair DA, Tsai LH (2007). SIRT1 deacetylase protects against neurodegeneration in models for Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EMBO J, June 27, Epub ahead of print

Sananbenesi F, Fischer A, Wang X, Schrick C, Neve R, Radulovic J, Tsai LH (2007). A hippocampal Cdk5 pathway regulates the extinction of contextual fear. Nature Neuroscience, 15th July, Epub ahead of print

Fischer A, Radulovic M, Schrick C, Sananbenesi F, Godovac-Zimmermann J, Radulovic J (2006). Hippocampal Mek/Erk signaling mediates extinction of contextual freezing behavior. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 87:149-5

Fischer A, Sananbenesi F, Pang PT, Lu B, Tsai LH (2005). Opposing roles of transient and prolonged expression of p25 in synaptic plasticity and hippocampus dependent memory. Neuron, 48: 825-838.