Asari group
Visual systems neuroscience
The Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit studies varied mammalian physiological phenomena from a molecular perspective in the context of the whole organism with a very strong emphasis, following a recent refocusing of our research on Neurobiology and Epigenetics and their interface.
The research of all groups is centered on the study of the mouse as a model organism and this research is underpinned by a state-of-the-art animal facility, and the provision of a full range of core facilities including mouse transgenic and gene editing technologies, viral vector engineering, imaging, histology, flow cytometry, microscopy, and an efficient and user friendly administration. Additional support for our researchers is available through the EMBL Core Facilities on the main Heidelberg site (Genomics, Electron Microscopy, Metabolomics, Protein Expression, Advanced Light Microscopy, and Proteomics).
Recent advances in delivery and editing technologies have dramatically increased the ease and rapidity with which genetic and epigenetic perturbations can be introduced into the mouse genome allowing increasingly sophisticated causal experimental approaches in this organism. Such technologies are currently routinely exploited by all groups in the Unit.
Current research topics include the epigenetic control of early developmental processes, neural circuits and behavior, neural computation, somatosensation and the biology of blood cell development and differentiation.
Visual systems neuroscience
Mechanisms of embryonic gene regulation
Epigenetic gene silencing in mammals
Neural control of instinctive behaviour
Epigenetic mechanisms and intergenerational inheritance
Understanding the formation of hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells during development
Advanced optical techniques for deep tissue microscopy
Visual circuits in the thalamus
EMBL Rome news
The 74 research groups at EMBL are organised into nine units spanning six European sites.