A group of excellent Chinese PhD students visited the HIH on June 22, 2023. Accompanied by the DFG, the delegation informed themselves about various German research institutions on the sidelines of this year's Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau.

The visitors were given insights into current research at the HIH after a welcome address by Marc Himmelbach, HIH research group leader and head of the Tübingen Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience. The lab visits kicked off with the research field of neurodegenerative diseases. In the laboratories of Prof. Thomas Gasser, Prof. Philipp Kahle and Dr. Julia Fitzgerald, they were able to learn more about the genetic and molecular basis of Parkinson's disease and the role mitochondria play in the development of the disease. In Prof. Jucker's lab, they received impressions of current Alzheimer's research. These visits were followed by lab tours in the areas of neuro-oncology and neurovascular diseases. Prof. Dr. Dr. Tabatabai taught the group about new targeted therapies against brain tumors. In Prof. Ziemann's lab, the visitors learned more about the ConnectToBrain project, with which the department aims to revolutionize therapeutic brain stimulation after stroke.

A discussion session with Chinese PhD students and postdocs from the HIH and the GTC completed the program. The open exchange over finger food and cool drinks on the hot summer’s day was a highlight for everyone involved.

The visit was organized by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Sino-German Center for Science Promotion (CDZ), which the DFG maintains together with its Chinese partner organization NSFC.

Photo: The visiting group in front of the HIH
Copyright: Mareike Kardinal / HIH