Group members

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Martin Witt  
 

PhD students

Sema Kaya: “The olfactory system in animal models of Multiple Sclerosis”
Lina-M. Krysewski:"The VNO in Huntington´s disease"
Julia Schnermann (in co-operation with Prof. Frederike Hanke, Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology): “Distribution of photoreceptor cells in the retina of harbor seals”

Master student

Carlos Junior Hempel (in co-operation with Prof. Frederike Hanke, Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology): Electron microscopical analysis of the anterior pituitary and suprarenal gland in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1

M. sc. Nicole Power Guerra

Former club members

Anja Meyer: “Die Plastizität des olfaktorischen Systems in einem Mausmodell von Morbus Niemann-Pick Typ C1” (verteidigt am 15.9.2020; magna cum laude)

Diana Heimes: “Volumetrische Evaluation zentraler olfaktorischer Areale in einem mausbasierten Tiermodell für Morbus Niemann-Pick Typ C1” (verteidigt am 15.9.2020; magna cum laude)

Lorenzo Brozzetti, , Lab member from October 2018-April 2019, in co-operation with PD Dr. Marcus Frank, EMZ, UMR, and Prof. Gianluigi Zanusso,  University of Verona: “Neurodegeneration associated-proteins in human olfactory epithelium: immunocytochemical and biomolecular study in healthy subjects and patients with synucleinopathies”  (defended his PhD thesis successfully at the Univ. of Verona on May 10, 2020)

Irina Jozikova (Master) (in co-operation with Prof. Frederike Hanke, Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology): “Histological analysis of retina of mammals” (defended her master thesis successfully on May 10, 2020)

Functional Morphology of Chemosensory Systems

Our group is currently working on the impact of general neurodegeneration on olfactory acuity. We use several animal models that mimic defects occurring in human diseases such as Idiopathic Parkinson´s Syndrome, Huntington´s disease, Multiple Sclerosis or Niemann-Pick disease. Most outcomes are based on immunohistochemical and electron microscopical techniques.

Further interests:

• Covid-19 and olfaction
• Distribution pattern of human olfactory epithelium
• Regenerative potential of the human olfactory system 
• Human olfactory bulb and central olfactory pathways  
• Morphology and immunohistochemistry of the human vomeronasal organ
• Functional morphology of taste buds
• Histocompatibility of anterior eye chamber stents (glaucoma research)