Nora Hagemeyer

Date of birth
07.04.1983

Place of birth
Göttingen, Germany

EDUCATION

Nora Hagemeyer

College / University
University of Bremen

Degree
Diploma in Biology

Major Subjects
Neurobiology, Cell biology, Psychology

Lab Experience

Cell culture: Cultures of the human embryonic stem cell line HUES3 (Melton cell lines) as well as other cell lines. Neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells based in co-culturing with a feeder cell line.
Immunohistochemistry and Immunocytochemistry analysis: DAB immunostaining, Fluorescence immunostaining and microscopy.
Animal models: Parkinsoninan rodent model: 6-Hydroxydopamine unilateral lesion and amphetamine-induced rotation test.

Affiliation-Address:
Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine
Div. of Clinical Neurosciences
Hermann-Rein-Str. 3
37075 Göttingen
Germany

phone: +49-551-3899 625
e-mail: <>

Further Information:
www.em.mpg.de

PROJECTS / RESEARCH

Current title of PhD project: "Effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on clinical recovery, remyelination and neuroregeneration in a murine model of toxic demyelination: Relevance for neuroprotective treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)."

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Among other symptoms, MS patients suffer from cognitive impairment, loss of vision, tremor, vertigo, weakness and bladder dysfunction. So far, no treatment exists to improve or even cure the disease. Treatment strategies focus on immunological targets. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth factor with potent neuroprotective properties. Previous work has shown that EPO can reduce clinical, electrophysiological or histological readouts of acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodents and of chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. The mechanisms of action of EPO, however, are far from clear. My PhD project focuses particularly on the aspects of de- and remyelination, exploiting a toxic animal model (cuprizone feeding of mice) that widely excludes the immunological/inflammatory part of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models of MS. Main task of my PhD project is to investigate the effect of EPO on demyelination and remyelination in the cuprizone model of oligodendrocyte death under different experimental conditions (e.g. repeated cuprizone exposure). For this, I am using different techniques including clinical readouts like continuous monitoring of mouse behaviour (motor performance, sensorimotor gating, sensory functions, and evoked potentials) and MRI, histology and electron microscopy. The results of my work will ultimately help to better define therapeutic strategies for MS that might involve EPO or EPO variants.

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My scientific interest is the field of neurodegenerative diseases. I am especially interested to find ways to stimulate neuroregeneration and therefore to improve disease courses such as in multiple sclerosis. Our lab focuses on the neuroprotective effect of EPO. I am interested in the effect of EPO in multiple sclerosis and how EPO works on a molecular level.

SOURCE OF FUNDING

MPIEM work contract

PUBLICATIONS

Adamcio B, Sperling S, Hagemeyer N, Walkinshaw G, Ehrenreich H (2009). Hypoxia inducible factor stabilization leads to lasting improvement of hippocampal memory in healthy mice, submitted.

POSTER PRESENTATION

Adamcio B, Hagemeyer N, Dahm L, Sperling S, Walkinshaw G, Ehrenreich H (2009). Hypoxia inducible factor stabilization leads to lasting improvement of hippocampal memory in healthy mice, 8th International Luebeck Conference on Pathophysiology and Pharmacology of Erythropoietin and Other Hematopoietic Growth Factors.