Liebscher Lab – Circuits in CNS disorders

Sabine Liebscher, Principal Investigator

Read more about the PI on the next tab.

Follow me  on Twitter

Christopher Douthwaite, PhD student

I grew up in the north of England and studied Neuroscience at the University of Leeds, UK, which included a year researching synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Belgium. I am a PhD student in the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences Munich, interested in neural circuit alterations that occur with psychiatric disorders. My project focusses on how the hippocampus guides the activity of the prefrontal cortex during spatial working memory. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing football, taking advantage of Munich’s river surfing spots and exploring the alps skiing and hiking.

Shenyi Jiang, PhD student

I joined the Liebscher lab in the spring of 2020 as a PhD student. My current project aims to understand how chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress and stress granule formation based on aberrant phase transition influence the structural plasticity of synapses in vivo. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Sichuan University, China, where I primarily explored the complexity and beauty of neural networks on fruit flies in Dr. Haihuai He’s lab. After graduation, I did an internship in Prof. Qing Richard Lu’s lab, probing oligodendrocyte development in mice. I received her master’s degree in Neuroscience at University College London, UK. My master’s project addressed amyloid pathology and microglia activity in Alzheimer’s Disease under Prof. Frances Edwards’ supervision. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, hiking, listening to symphony orchestras and rock music. 

Vanessa Kan, PhD student

I am originally from Hong Kong and have lived in Canada and the U.S. before moving to Germany to study the cortical pathology in ALS. During my academic and research career in Hong Kong, I have always adopted ex vivo and in vitro techniques involving brain tissues, immunohistochemistry and cell culture to answer questions pertaining to neuroscience and cell biology topics. My previous experience thus prompted me to explore a new territory comprising in vivo two-photon imaging in awake behaving animals. Science is not the only thing I am passionate about, I also love travelling, being outdoors (the mountains) and in the kitchen. An occasional run in the afternoon in the woods close to the lab definitely boosts my dopamine levels! When I am stressed, I bake  which is not so bad for the people around me. 

Pavel Svehla, PhD student

I was born and raised in Czechia. I received my bachelors and master’s degree from the Charles University in Prague, majoring in molecular biology and neuroscience. During my master’s I joined the Montcouquiol lab at Université de Bordeaux, France. In 2015 I finished my master’s degree working on pharmacological modulation of NMDA receptors by neurosteroids in Prof. Vyklicky’s lab, ASCR Czechia. I then joined the CEA Saclay in Paris, France, for a research internship in ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging. Since 2017 I am a graduate student in the Liebscher lab. I am now working on cellular and circuit mechanisms of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis using cutting-edge in-vivo two photon imaging in mice performing tasks in virtual reality environment.

XiaoQian Ye, PhD student

I grew up and studied Physics at Fudan University, China, and had experience in consulting industry, covering advanced technology manufacturing market and policy. With growing interest in cognitive neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases, I completed my master’s degree in Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive robotics at the University of Birmingham, UK, where I was working on brain network dynamics across sleep stages using fMRI imaging technology and network analysis approaches (Dr Andrew Bagshaw Lab), and a second project on deploying virtual reality technologies (Oculus and Phantom), exploring human visuomotor transformation under Dr Sang-Hoon Yeo. Further diving into neurodegenerative diseases I joined in Liebscher Lab at the end of 2017 as a PhD student. I am working on astroglial dysfunction, a potential circuit contributor to upper motor neurodegeneration in ALS, using the state-of-the-art in-vivo imaging and integrating a broad range of molecular biology and immunological technologies together with computational analyses. Outside of the lab, I enjoy nature, life in Munich and exploring European art and history.

Zeynep Günes, PhD student

I am originally from Turkey. I completed my Bachelor`s degree in Biology at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara before I was admitted to the Fast-Track PhD program at the GSN-LMU. My project focuses on exploring circuit mechanisms that are potentially contributing to lower motor neuron degeneration in ALS. By doing so, I also focus on neuronal and glial cell function in the disease. In my free time, I enjoy doing “improv”, traveling, volunteering and organizing/participating in science communication events. 

Siyuan Li, Medical student

I was born in China. I received my bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine from Lanzhou University in 2013 and received a master's degree from the Medical School of Chinese PLA in 2016. During my master's period, I was not only working in the hospital but also setting up my research in the lab, major focused on neuromuscular disorders, and studied biological markers of ALS patients. Since 2017, I have worked as a doctoral candidate in Sabine Liebscher’s lab. I employ chronic in vivo two-photon imaging in a transgenic mouse model of ALS to probe the structural alterations of upper motor neurons. During my spare time, I like traveling, playing cards, yoga, and taking care of my little pet dog, Guo Guo.

Anna Brauer, Medical student

I was born and raised in Munich. After my highschool degree in 2017 I started studying medicine at the LMU. I joined the Liebscher lab in September 2020 to investigate circuit mechanisms of NMDA-receptor encephalitis.

Sebastian Ehrt, Medical student

I grew up in Munich and have been studying medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität since 2015.He joined the Liebscher Lab in 2019 and I am primarily using in vivo two-photon imaging to study circuit mechanisms in anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis.

Meriem Mounassir, Medical student

I was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. After graduating highschool, I moved to Munich to study medicine at the LMU before transferring to the TUM. I have always had a particular interest in Neuroscience and joined the Liebscher lab in October 2020. The project, I am involved in, addresses cerebellar microcircuit dysfunction in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia. Outside of the lab, I love to paint, cook and occasionally enjoy rock climbing.

Olivia Oh Wan Cheng, Master student

I was born in Malaysia and have partially spent my childhood in Taiwan. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Japan at the University of Tsukuba.
I have always been fascinated by biomedical sciences and human pathophysiology because I think doing research in this field is something meaningful in terms of helping people to not lose their love ones. I am currently doing my Master thesis investigating a possible genetic treatment for ALS in the Liebscher lab. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling, diving, snorkelling and swimming.