Key contributors and members of the coordinating team include Manuel Zimmer, neurobiologist at the Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology (Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna), and Noelia Urbán Avellaneda from the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), both located at the Vienna BioCenter. IMBA scientists Elly Tanaka, Jürgen Knoblich and Sofia Grade are also part of the multidisciplinary project.
The neural mechanisms behind perception, decision-making and behaviour are still largely unknown. As Zimmer explains, "The interaction between different types of nerve cells creates the diversity of neural computation in the brain." This diversity enables the brain to solve problems in a flexible and energy-efficient way, something that even advanced artificial intelligence is struggling to replicate.
The CoE aims to fill these knowledge gaps by focusing on the development of inhibitory neurons, essential cellular nodes of any neural network. Their interaction controls the circuitry that underlies behaviour, and they are vulnerable to diseases such as schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy. This fundamental understanding is crucial to improving treatments for neurological disorders, many of which are still poorly understood.
One of the ultimate goals of the Cluster of Excellence is to develop better, personalised therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders. By studying the basic mechanisms of brain function, researchers hope to gain new insights into the treatment of diseases such as schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.
The CoE, supported by a €16 million grant from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), is well placed to lead ground-breaking research in this field. Zimmer says: "We can create real synergies and make fundamental new discoveries in brain research through collaborative, interdisciplinary cooperation" and Noelia Urbán adds: "Thanks to the Cluster of Excellence, we will be able to capitalize on the strong neuroscience community in Austria to foster interactions and generate synergies among them. We look forward to educating and transferring our knowledge to the next generation of scientists in the country and beyond."
About Manuel Zimmer
Manuel Zimmer is Professor of Neurobiology at the Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology at the University of Vienna. His current research focuses on how the brain processes the sensory environment. Zimmer previously conducted research at the University of California, San Francisco, and Rockefeller University, New York.
About Noelia Urbán
Noelia Urbán joined IMBA in 2017 as a Junior Group Leader. Her research group studies how internal and external factors regulate the balance between activation and quiescence in adult neuronal stem cells to prevent their exhaustion during aging.