RG M. Schmidt: Neurobiology of Stress
Group leader
Contact
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
Kraepelinstrasse 2
80804 Munich
Phone: +49-(0)89-30622-519
Fax: +49-(0)89-30622-610
E-mail: mschmidt[a]mpipsykl.mpg.de
Scientific profile
Stress-associated diseases, with depression leading the way, affect the quality of life of more than a billion people world wide. It is today undisputed that environmental factors as acute traumatic experiences or chronic stress contribute significantly to the development of depression. On the other hand, it is still largely unknown how specific genetic variants or environmental factor impact on the vulnerability or resilience of an individual to environmental challenges.
The main focus of this research group is to study the impact of acute and chronic stress during different developmental stages in various mouse models. Specifically we are interested in the behavioural, neuroendocrine and molecular basis of individual stress vulnerability and resilience.
To this end we use a broad spectrum of approaches, ranging from different acute or chronic stress models to transgenic or knockout animals. By combining behavioural, neuroendocrine and molecular readouts, we aim to develop novel pharmacological or genetic approaches to modulate, reverse or even prevent individual stress vulnerability.
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