Thomas Dresbach, Prof. Dr.
Our group studies synapse formation with particular focus on the biogenesis of presynaptic nerve terminals. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms of synaptogenesis in enough detail to pinpoint molecular causes of synaptopathies. We study neuronal cultures to unravel fundamental mechanisms operating at the heart of synaptogenesis, and we have begun to study specialized synapses such as the giant synapses of the mammalian auditory system to determine how these mechanisms act together to generate the remarkable specification and heterogeneity of synapses in the brain.