{"id":55,"date":"2026-05-14T09:56:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T09:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zunkelab.de\/?page_id=55"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:30:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:30:47","slug":"our-reseach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zunkelab.de\/?page_id=55","title":{"rendered":"Our Reseach"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n \t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n
\n Research Projects<\/span>\n

Current Projects<\/h2>\n

\n Our projects explore how lysosomal pathways, glial cell biology and extracellular vesicles contribute to neurodegeneration, inflammation and disease progression.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n\n \n
\n
\n \n \"Crosstalk\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n 2025<\/span>\n\n

Crosstalk between lysosomal cathepsins & \u03b1-synuclein aggregation<\/h3>\n\n

\n Investigating how lysosomal cathepsins influence \u03b1-synuclein aggregation and exploring therapeutic strategies.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Cathepsins<\/span>\n \u03b1-Synuclein<\/span>\n Synucleinopathies<\/span>\n Lysosome<\/span>\n hiPSC<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Lysosomal proteostasis plays a critical role in modulating \u03b1-synuclein turnover and aggregate clearance in synucleinopathies such as Parkinson\u2019s disease and multiple system atrophy.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n This project investigates the functional relationship between lysosomal proteases, particularly cathepsins<\/strong>, and the aggregation of \u03b1-synuclein in iPSC-derived neuronal and oligodendroglial models.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Beyond mechanistic insights, the project explores strategies to enhance lysosomal activity<\/strong> in a translational approach, aiming to reduce toxic protein aggregation.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"Astrocytes\"\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n\n
\n
\n 2025<\/span>\n

AstroFinder<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n\n \"AstroFinder\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Exploring astrocytic roles in MS, PD, glioblastoma, epilepsy, and other pathologies.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Astrocytes<\/span>\n Neuroinflammation<\/span>\n PD<\/span>\n MS<\/span>\n MSA<\/span>\n Glioblastoma<\/span>\n Epilepsy<\/span>\n hiPSC<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n Astrocytes are among the most abundant cell types in the brain and carry out essential functions, including maintaining the blood\u2013brain barrier, modulating dopaminergic transmission and influencing synaptic signalling.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n The aim of the AstroFinder<\/strong> project is to elucidate the role of astrocytes across various brain pathologies, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson\u2019s disease, glioblastoma, epilepsy and multiple system atrophy.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n By combining spatial transcriptomics, patient samples and hiPSC-derived astrocyte models, the project seeks to identify disease-associated astrocytic phenotypes and potential therapeutic targets.\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"Project\n <\/div>\n\n
\n 2025<\/span>\n\n

Biomarker discovery in Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/h3>\n\n

\n Using extracellular vesicles and iPSC-derived neurons to uncover early diagnostic markers.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Parkinson<\/span>\n Biomarker<\/span>\n Extracellular Vesicles<\/span>\n hiPSC<\/span>\n \u03b1-Synuclein<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n This project tackles Parkinson\u2019s disease from two complementary angles: understanding molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and identifying biomarkers for early and accurate diagnosis.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Induced pluripotent stem cell\u2013derived dopaminergic neuron models are used to study how \u03b1-synuclein accumulation affects lysosomal processes and how these alterations can be restored.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n A central focus lies on extracellular vesicles<\/strong>. Their protein and RNA content in accessible biofluids such as blood and saliva is analyzed to detect disease-specific alterations and translationally relevant targets.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/article>\n\n