Uwe Maskos

Biography

 Their research aims to investigate at multiple levels the molecular mechanisms and neuronal circuits. Underlying executive function and nicotine re-inforcement in a simple animal model. The system chosen is the mouse that lends itself to a large variety of approaches, from genetic manipulations and molecular pharmacology to brain imaging and behaviour. The ultimate goal is to develop a molecular neurobiology of cognitive functions using a novel molecular genetic strategy: the stereotaxic injection in defined brain regions of lentiviral vectors to stably express defined genes. The method has already been successfully used to restore executive functions and nicotine re-inforcement in the mouse (Maskos et al., Nature, 2005) following re-expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the VTA of nAChR KO mice. It will be further exploited to differentially express genes in defined categories of neurons, e.g. dopaminergic vs. GABAergic, but also to inactivate genes using the expression of siRNAs. The lentiviral strategy will also be extended to the rat brain and to the construction of genetically modified mice and rats (GMMs and GMRs) by infection of early embryos with lentiviral vectors. Indeed, many advanced behavioural tests cannot be applied to the mouse, but have given a wealth of information on rat behaviour. This approach can even be potentially applied to non-human primates.

Research Interest

 Neurology