At Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, cutting-edge neuroscience research will continue within the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1436 – “Neuronal Resources of Cognition”. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is providing more than 12 million euros in funding for this purpose. Starting on January 1, 2025, the next funding phase of the CRC will commence, involving over 40 researchers working on 20 individual projects to address key questions about the capabilities of the human brain.
The CRC At the heart of the research project lies the question of which neurobiological mechanisms limit our cognitive abilities—particularly in the context of aging processes and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The researchers aim to use their findings to strategically mobilize the brain’s reserves, thereby sustainably enhancing memory, learning, and attention.
“The extension of the Collaborative Research Centre is a tremendous success for our university and strengthens collaboration among the participating institutions. It highlights the relevance and groundbreaking nature of our previous findings,” says Prof. Dr. Emrah Düzel, spokesperson for the CRC and Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
The interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Centre brings together experts from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), and renowned partner institutions such as Freie Universität Berlin, Charité Berlin, Heidelberg University, and Leipzig University.
Since the establishment of CRC 1436 in 2021, researchers have achieved significant progress, including the development of new methods to measure and enhance cognitive abilities. “The renewed funding from the DFG confirms that we are on the right path to unraveling the potentials and limitations of the human brain. Our long-term goal is to activate neuronal reserves in ways that boost memory performance and mitigate age- or disease-related impairments,” explains Co-Speaker Dr. Michael Kreutz from the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology.
The next funding phase will focus on advancing innovative imaging techniques and methods for the targeted stimulation of key brain regions, with applications in both preclinical and clinical studies. Neurologist Prof. Düzel explains: “The continuation of the CRC enables us to further develop a fundamental theory of the brain’s capacity and plasticity limits—an essential foundation for creating individualized prevention and therapy methods directly applicable in clinical settings.”
With cutting-edge research technologies, including the world’s first 7-Tesla Connectome MRI, high-resolution microscopy, and a research cyclotron, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and its non-university partner institutions rank among the world’s leading neuroscience hubs. “The renewed funding from the DFG highlights the site’s outstanding infrastructure and expertise, opening new opportunities to rapidly translate findings from basic research into clinical applications for the benefit of our population while providing an excellent environment for our young scientists,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Daniela C. Dieterich, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
Copyright: OVGU press