Oertel Lab

Neurodegeneration is the leading cause of functional decline in neuroinflammatory disorders. Initiated by neuroinflammation and/or demyelination, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neuroinflammatory disorders such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) undergo non-reversible neurodegeneration leading to major disability accrual. Although neuroinflammation and demyelination are targeted by existing or upcoming treatments, neurodegeneration can currently not be prevented or reversed. The goal of our lab is to identify characteristics of 1) neuronal vulnerability and of 2) innate immune cell activation that amplify neurodegeneration and can be therapeutically targeted. Our lab also contributes to 3) developing imaging markers for neurodegeneration in clinical trials.

The visual system offers a well-defined environment for these investigations due to various available innovative translational methods, a robust separation from nearby structures and clear structure-function-correlations. In our lab, we are combining advanced methods of preclinical (innovative mouse models, in vivo imaging, single-cell RNA sequencing) and clinical research (retinal imaging, artificial intelligence-based post-processing) in a unique translational approach to understand how we can reduce neurodegeneration and enhance neuroprotection in neuroinflammatory disorders.

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