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Theodor Kocher Institute
University of Bern
Freiestrasse 1
CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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The Theodor Kocher Institute (TKI) of the University of Bern has a longstanding history in research in inflammation. The 40 staff members including technicians, PhD Students, Post-docs and scientists are organized in a total of 6 research groups focusing on leukocyte trafficking, vascular biology, blood-brain barrier research, endothelial cell signal transduction, platelet biology and chemokines. Since the appointment of B. Engelhardt as a director of the institute research focuses on the specific properties of vascular endothelial cells with an emphasis on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during health and neuroimmune inflammation. Investigation of the physiology of the BBB, NVU beakdown during stroke as well as reperfusion injury will greatly benefit from the longstanding experience in vascular biology of the BBB and leukocyte trafficking across the BBB using a broad armentarium of experimental techniques including transgenic mouse models, intravital epifluorescence (multiphoton) videomicroscopy, endothelial cell culture techniques such as in vitro BBB models, adhesion and transendothelial migration assays and the experience in (transgenic) animal models for autoimmune CNS inflammation. The institute has actively participated in establishing scientific platforms (Bern Immunology Club) and technology platforms (Microscopy Imaging Center), Transgenic Mouse Facility – ongoing) to increase the level of excellence at the University of Bern.
Project Staff
Prof. Dr. Britta Engelhardt, director of the TKI with internationally recognized expertise in leukocyte trafficking to the CNS in vivo and in vitro, BBB biology; autoimmune CNS inflammation. Main recent achievements: Establishment of intravital (multiphoton) microscopy (IVM) of the brain and spinal cord in mice which allow direct observation of inflammatory cell recruitment across the BBB in vivo. More than 90 original peer-reviewed articles published in international journals.
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Dr. Jens Stein, junior group leader at the TKI with special expertise in lymphocyte migration in vivo. Specific expertise in multiphoton microscopy. Main recent achievements: discovery of intracellular signalling mechanisms involved in interstitital movement of lymphocytes in vivo.
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Dr. Urban Deutsch, junior group leader at the TKI with special expertise in vascular morphogenesis. Main recent achievement: Establishment of a transgenic mouse models with TET-inducible endothelial cell specific gene expression in adult mice.
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Dr. Ruth Lyck, junior group leader at the TKI with expertise in in vitro BBB models, endothelial cell signal transduction and leukocyte diapedesis. Main recent achievement: Characterization of endothelial transmembrane receptors mediating T cell diapedesis across the BBB; Establishment of an in vitro mouse BBB model with low permeability.
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Dr. Gaby Enzmann, post-doc with expertise in intravital microscopy, stroke models. Main research focus: leukocyte trafficking into the CNS during stroke
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Dr. Esther Steiner, post-doc with expertise in cell culture models. Main research focus: role of agrin in BBB maintenance
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Technical support:
C. Blatti: cellbiology/immunology, animal models;
T. Périnat: histology;
H. Tardent microsurgery,
A. Witt: animal models
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