Neuronal network and mitochondrial activity in IPSC models for neurodegeneration

In this project, we will make use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to address questions related to the role of the gut-brain connection in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this context, we will study neuronal activity, morphology and mitochondrial transport in iPSC-derived neurons as a way to assess the impact of PD-relevant mutations on neuronal health and function. Furthermore, we will use advanced neuroimaging tools to investigate how clusters of iPSC-derived ENS and CNS neurons establish functional circuits and how their activity influences each other.