© Fatimunnisa Qadri
Bader Lab
Molecular Biology of Peptide Hormones
Profile
The group focuses on the molecular biology and function of hormone systems involved in cardiovascular regulation. The physiological functions of these systems are analyzed by the production and analysis of transgenic and gene-targeted animal models.
Among the hormones studied, serotonin is of special interest, since it is not only involved in vascular homeostasis and other peripheral functions, but also serves as potent and multifunctional neurotransmitter in the brain. In addition, the group is interested in embryology and stem cell research, in particular applying these fields to the rat.
Team
Research
The main area of interest of our group is research on hormones, such as angiotensin, bradykinin and serotonin, focusing on their role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and in the pathogenesis of hypertension and its consequences.
These hormones also have effects in the central nervous system and in the immune system, so that the projects go beyond the cardiovascular system. In addition to the structural and functional analysis of genes involved in hormone synthesis, the focus of the research is the development and characterization of animal models which exhibit changes in the expression of these genes (transgenic animals). As a consequence, one further interest is in methodology, setting up new transgenic techniques such as the "knockout" technology for rats, the most widely used animal model for cardiovascular diseases.
