Our research
How do neural cells maintain their identities and functions during our life span?
To elucidate this question, we investigate cell type-specific nuclear architecture organized by nuclear structural proteins, such as nuclear pores or nuclear lamins.
Explore links between aging and neurodegenerative diseases
Aging is one of the most critical risk factors for neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, the biological links between physiological brain aging and pathological development are still largely unknown. Our lab aims at seeking a link between the fundamental mechanism underlying the long-term maintenance of neural function and effects of ageing on that, by focusing on cell-type specific nuclear architecture.
Neural stem cell aging
Adult neural stem cells are retained in the specific brain regions such as the hippocampus and provide structural and functional plasticity in the adult brains. However, their neurogenic capability is lost during aging. We study how adult neural stem cells are aged and if we could rejuvenate them.
Our Team
Tomohisa Toda
Tomo is a Professor at FAU and a group leader at DZNE in Dresden, Germany. His research focus is to understand the roles of nuclear architecture in neural development/evolution, maintenance and brain aging. Tomo completed his PhD in the University of Tokyo and his postdoc in Rusty Gage’s lab at the Salk Institute. The Toda lab has been established based on the support from the ERC starting grant in 2019.
Nicole Rund
Nicole is a research technician and FACS specialist. She has joined the lab from the beginning and has support to established the lab in many ways. She takes care of everything in the lab. Nicole loves gardening.
Anne Karasinsky
Anne is a research technician and a specialist of animal experiments. She likes sushi and tea.
Judith Houtman
Judith is the first post-doc and her focus is on neuronal nuclear architecture. She received her BSc and MSc from Wageningen University and obtained her PhD from Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin. Her expertise lies in neurodegenerative diseases. Since she has joined the lab in 2019, she is the social conscience of the lab.
Sara Zocher
Sara completed her PhD at the Kempermann Lab @CRTD. After the trainings in in vivo imaging, she has joined the Toda lab with strong interests in epigenetic aging and its causality in cognition.
Abhinav Soni
Abhi is the first PhD student from DIPP program. His focus is on the role of nuclear architecture in neural plasticity. He received her B. tech and M..tech from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India in bioengineering and developmental biology. He likes to learn new technology and enjoy bouldering in Dresden.
Clara Ridzewski
Clara is a PhD student through the DIPP program, and interested in how environmental factors modulate cellular plasticity through nuclear architecture.
Ludovica Sforza
Ludovica is a PhD student from Italy. She is interested in how nuclear architecture dictates the development and maintenance of specific neural identity.
Konstantin Michel
Konstantin is a joint PhD student with the Guck lab at the MPZ-PM. He is investigating how cell type-specific nuclear shape underlies epigenetic regulation.
Diana Zhilina
Diana is a master student from TU Dresden. She has been examining the evolutional changes in nuclear architecture.
Kristin Baues
Kristin is an administrative assistant, and help to take care of grants and HR related issues in the lab.
Jana Sickert
Jana is an administrative assistant, and take care of difficult German regulation and logistics for the lab.
Lab pictures
Join the lab
Master Students
We are always looking for highly motivated and creative students. Students interested in a master’s project with a focus on epigenetics, neurobiology and brain aging are encouraged to contact Tomo.
PhD Students
Students interested in a PhD project should apply to the Dresden International PhD Program (DIPP) and Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering (DIGS-BB). Students are also able to apply to the FAU PhD or IMPRS program in Erlangen. Please contact Tomo if you are interested.
Post-doc/fellowships
We are also supporting fellowship applications of outstanding postdoctoral researchers who wish to join our lab.
Funding is available through various organizations (Humboldt foundation, HFSP, EMBO, JSPS, DAAD, etc.).
International students and researchers are particularly encouraged to get in touch. In case you are interested in working with us please contact Tomo.
Funding and support
