News

March 2025 – In a collaborative study, ISD researchers found that Alpha-synuclein co-pathology is more common in advanced AD and accelerates tau aggregation and cognitive decline. This underscores the need to consider αSyn in AD research and treatment strategies, particularly in amyloid-driven tau pathophysiology. >>

March 2025 – Fatty liver disease exacerbates atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. A new collaborative study led by ISD investigators identifies D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT/MIF-2) as an atypical chemokine that promotes both atherosclerosis and hepatic lipid accumulation. The researchers also define the underlying receptor mechanism >>

January 2025 – Common genetic variants in a cis-regulatory element at HDAC9 are associated with atherosclerotic phenotypes including stroke and myocardial infarction. ISD investigators now defined a mechanism whereby HDAC9 regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and developed a targeted anti-inflammatory approach for treating atherosclerosis. >>

January 2025 – A study led by ISD researchers suggests a key mechanistic link between Aβ and tau accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease, showing that Aβ induces neuronal hyperconnectivity, thereby promoting the spread of tau pathology across interconnected brain regions. >>

November 2024 – A new collaborative study coordinated by LMU/SyNergy investigators and the University of Vienna proposes a novel clinical workflow for the reliable biomarker-based identification of amyloid pathology in memory clinic patients, in preparation of disease-modifying treatments against Alzheimer’s disease >>

November 2024 – Of the world’s population of scientists, Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000. The current list from Clarivate identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their field through the publication of highly cited papers. >>

November 2024 – Organized by ISD (Steffen Tiedt), the first BIOSTROKE meeting brought together 50 participants for an in-depth discussion to accelerate stroke biomarker research. The meeting took place in the Center for Advanced Studies close to the English Garden.>>

October 2024 – ISD organized the 1st FASEB Mini-Symposium on Cardiovascular Sciences and Cancer as part of a Europe outreach activity of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB), for which the Institute Pasteur (Paris) and LMU Munich were selected. Experts from the US, Japan, and Munich covered an excellent spread and depth of topics on atherosclerosis, cardiometabolic, cardiopulmonary, and cancer research.>>

October 2024 – This years International Conference on Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy convened experts in the field of CAA research from around the globe including early career investigators and patient representatives. Presentations covered the latest developments in CAA research ranging from basic research to clinical trials and guidelines currently under development. The meeting was supported by the DFG and SyNergy cluster.>>

September 2024 – The European Research Council awarded an ERC Starting Grant to Anna-Sophia Wahl for studying fundamental principles of neuronal repair after stroke. With her team Anna-Sophia will examine how individual neurons in the active brain react to microstrokes and how the survival and rewiring of neurons can be enhanced to prevent cognitive decline after stroke. >>

August 2024 –  Using a novel experimental model, ISD researchers showed that stroke activates the AIM2 inflammasome in atherosclerotic plaques via increased circulating cell-free DNA, causing inflammation, plaque destabilization, and recurrent stroke. Neutrophil NETosis was identified as the main source of cell-free DNA. Neutralizing cell-free DNA or inhibiting inflammasome activation reduced stroke recurrence, offering new perspectives for the prevention of early recurrent events >>

July 2024 – ISD researchers hypothesized in a newly published study that the high rate of comorbidities that develop after a stroke could have a common immunological cause. A Myeloid innate immune memory was identified as causing remote organ dysfunction post-stroke. Single-cell sequencing revealed persistent pro-inflammatory changes in monocytes/macrophages up to 3 months after brain injury, especially in the heart, causing cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. Neutralizing IL-1β or blocking monocyte trafficking prevented post-stroke cardiac dysfunction, suggesting immune-targeted therapies for secondary prevention. >>

July 2024 – Rare mutations in HTRA1 cause cerebral vasculopathy and stroke. Using in vitro, in silico and in vivo analyses, the Dichgans lab in collaboration with colleagues from Duisburg established mechanistically distinct protein repair approaches to reverse the deleterious effects of pathogenic mutations interfering with the oligomeric assembly and protease function of HTRA1. Their findings exemplify the feasibility of rational strategies to correct protein conformations and open perspectives for precision medicine >>

July 2024 – ISD research teams gathered for the annual scientific retreat to present their projects and discuss science. The meeting included presentations from Ph.D. students, an evening poster session, invited speaker talks, and a three minute thesis competition. The meeting further served as an opportunity to familiarize people with the medium- and long-term strategy of ISD.

June 2024 – Every two years, an international committee of scientific advisors evaluates ISD's research activities and makes recommendations for future direction. The first day of the meeting was dedicated to an in-depth review of three selected research groups. The second day featured an overview of research highlights presented through a series of presentations and poster sessions led by Postdoctoral Fellows and PhD students.

May 2024 – Combining genetic analyses in large international biobanks with experimental studies on human cells, ISD investigators found that rare HTRA1 variants affect vascular risk via a loss of enzymatic function of the HTRA1 protease, whereas a common causal variant independently affects vascular risk by influencing the circulating HTRA1 mRNA and protein levels. They further uncovered a complex relationship with other diseases including migraine and macular dystrophy. >>

April 2024 – The ISD is organising this year's International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC) workshop, held on LMU campus at the St.-Vinzenz-Haus of LMU Hospital close to the city center from April 24 to April 26, 2024. Aside from Keynote Lectures and Scientific Sessions featuring original science presented by renowned experts in different scientific fields there are social activities and networking events that will allow participants to explore Munich’s rich history and culture>>

April 2024 – Researchers at ISD and Helmholtz Munich introduce DELiVR, offering a new AI-based approach to the complex task of brain cell mapping. The deep learning tool democratizes advanced neuroscience by eliminating the need for coding expertise. DELiVR empowers biologists to efficiently explore disease-related spatial cell dynamics, fostering the development of precision therapies for enhanced patient care. >>

March 2024 – A proteomic profiling study on brain endothelial cells (BEC) by ISD investigators reveals a dysregulation of key regulators of endocytosis and receptor recycling (most prominently Arf6), macropinocytosis, and lysosomal degradation during aging. The study identified changes undetected in transcriptomic studies such as an accumulation of vesicle cargo and receptor ligands including Apoe. | Data are accessible via an interactive database https://becaging.de/

February 2024 – Integrating genetic information from >520,000 individuals with data from plasma proteomics, the team of Marios Georgakis identified a proteomic signature of IL-6 signaling activation and mediators of its effects on cardiovascular disease. Their analyses suggest, that the interferon-γ-inducible chemokine CXCL10 is a potentially causal mediator for atherosclerosis in different vascular beds (coronary, cerebral, and peripheral arteries) and could serve as a promising drug target for atheroprotection. >>

January 2024 – A combined neuroimaging and biofluid biomarker study investigated whether synaptic changes are associated with accelerated tau spreading in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Higher levels of the presynaptic protein GAP-43 speed up the spread of tau in AD. These findings by Nico Franzmeier (ISD) and others are relevant for developing treatments to slow down the progression of the disease. >>

December 2023 – A study by Josh Shrouder within the Plesnila lab, together with collaborators reveals how dysfunction of capillary pericytes aggravates no-reflow after ischemic stroke. These longitudinal in vivo results challenge the notion that pericytes are terminally susceptible to ischemia, and demonstrate how acute interventions targeting pericyte constriction could be harnessed to accelerate the restoration of capillary blood flow and improve stroke outcome. >>

November 2023 – A study by the BernhagenLab and collaborators shows that specific plant proteins resemble human signaling proteins of the immune system and can bind to their receptors. While representing basic cross-discipline research, the work might have translational implications, as the receptors are drivers of cardiovascular diseases and inflammation.>>

November 2023 – A study by Anna Steward and Nicolai Franzmeier reveals that ApoE4 carriers experience faster and earlier disease progression due to amyloid's impact on tau. These results urge earlier intervention for ApoE4 carriers who show reduced efficacy in response to anti-amyloid drugs. This insight, crucial for 40-60% of sporadic AD cases, suggests a potential shift in therapy approaches, advocating for tailored clinical studies to validate this new paradigm. >>

November 2023 – Of the world’s population of scientists, Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000. The current list from Clarivate identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their field through the publication of highly cited papers. >>

October 2023 – The meeting started with a lecture Fabrice Dabertrand, University of Colorado: “From impaired cerebral blood flow to cognitive impairment“. Following this, the Early Career investigators went downtown for a Munich Experience event. The following days were filled with stimulating discussion and new ideas for collaborations. The whole team is exicted about the work ahead.>>

October 2023 – Main results from TREAT-SVDs, an EU funded multicenter, open-label, randomised, crossover trial were presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) in Munich and recently published in the Lancet Neurolgy. The results show that four weeks of treatment with amlodipine, losartan, or atenolol did not differ in their effects on cerebrovascular reactivity in people with sporadic small vessel disease but did result in differential treatment effects in patients with CADASIL. >>

August 2023 – Neuroimmune interactions exhibit remarkable complexity, and exploring brain borders has gained significant attention in the quest for innovative approaches to diagnose, monitor, and treat brain pathologies. The recent discovery of connections between the skull and meninges has brought the skull into focus. A large collaborative research team led by the Erturk lab extensively examined the molecular and structural aspects of the skull in both mice and humans. Their findings demonstrated that skull inflammation can serve as an indicator of brain inflammation in patients suffering from diverse neurological disorders. >>

July 2023 – Researchers at the Erturk lab have introduced wildDISCO, a groundbreaking method that utilizes standard antibodies to achieve deep penetration into the whole mouse body, generating high-resolution 3D atlases of neurons, immune cells, the vasculature, and lymphatic vessels. With unprecedented insights into anatomical and functional connections among multiple organs and systems, wildDISCO promises to revolutionize disease understanding, drug development, and medical education. >>

July 2023 – ISD research teams gathered for the annual scientific retreat to present their projects and discuss science. The meeting included presentations from Ph.D. students, an evening poster session, invited speaker talks, and focused workshops such as the one on AI by Hannah Spitzer. The meeting further served as an opportunity to familiarize people with the medium- and long-term strategy of ISD.

May 2023 – The European Stroke Organisation Conference ESOC 2023 opened with a public awareness campaign and proceeded with an extensive scientific programme including the presentation of large international trials in plenaries, workshops, teaching courses and other formats. ISD researchers served as the local hosts and also presented results >>

May 2023 – Small vessel disease (SVD) accounts for ~25% of strokes, more than doubles the risk of future stroke, and contributes to up to 45% of dementia cases. In 2013, STandards for ReportIng Vascular Changes on nEuroimaging 1 (STRIVE-1) categorised features of SVD that are visible on structural MRI and defined standards on multiple levels up to reporting. In an international effort with other experts ISD investigators now updated guidance on imaging of vascular changes in studies of ageing and neurodegeneration to create STRIVE-2 >>

May 2023 – The 3rd edition of "The EMBO Workshop on Stroke-Immunology" will take place from September 18 to 21, 2023 at Schloss Hohenkammer in the iconic country side of Munich. The meeting provides a unique environment for scientists at all career levels to access recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of stroke and neuroimmunology research and to expand on collaborations. >>

March 2023 – The DFG awarded an Emmy Noether Award to Marios Georgakis for establishing an independent junior research group focusing on the inflammatory mechanisms driving atheroprogression. His team will analyze high-dimensional data aiming to discover novel anti-inflammatory drug targets for cardiovascular disease, map molecular and histological immunophenotypes associated with atheroprogression, and uncover imaging and circulating biomarkers of human atheroinflammation >>

March 2023 – The first biannual network meeting will be held on March 26-28, 2023 in New York City. Principal Investigators will present their research programs while also giving Early Career Investigators an opportunity to introduce their work. The International Network of Excellence on Brain Endothelium: A Nexus for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (BRENDA) is coordinated by Martin Dichgans and Frank Faraci (Iowa) and funded by the Leducq Foundation >>

January 2023 – The Hertie Foundation will continue funding for its Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience. The program provides support to junior scientists (four from LMU and TUM) and facilitates collaborations across participating sites. The scientific focus of the Munich site (Speakers: M. Dichgans and Thomas Korn) is on neurovascular, neurodegenerative, and neuroinflammatory diseases and their underlying mechanisms. >>