ERC Synergy Grant for Barbara Treutlein

The axolotl, a Mexican salamander, is an extraordinary animal that can regenerate parts of its brain after severe injury. However, the molecular mechanisms that control this process are still unclear. It is also not known whether the animals' neural circuits and behaviour are fully restored after regeneration. With this in mind, ETH Professor Barbara Treutlein is involved in the ERC Synergy project "AxoBrain", which aims to combine a wide range of modern approaches to gain a better understanding of how salamander brain cells respond to damage and regenerate behavioural circuits. By mapping the types of brain cells and their connections in the axolotl, the researchers hope to deepen their understanding of the organisation and evolution of the vertebrate brain. The knowledge gained from the axolotl will lead to new, clinically useful strategies for mammalian tissue regeneration. The AxoBrain project brings together a diverse team of equal partners with highly complementary expertise: Elly Tanaka (IMP Vienna), a pioneer in axolotl biology and regeneration, Barbara Treutlein (ETH Zurich), an expert in single-​cell technologies and neurodevelopment, and Kevin Briggman (MPI Bonn), a computational neuroethologist with expertise in behavioural neuroscience and connectomics. Each project partner will receive approximately three million euros.

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