Christian Madry

Position
PI
Project/s

B06

Institute

Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Institute of Neurophysiology

 

 

Imagine we’re in an elevator and you have until we reach our floor to pitch your project/idea.

What’s your elevator pitch?

Microglia are critical modulators of neuronal activity, but their impact on inhibitory neurons is poorly understood. This project aims at revealing the effects of microglia-interneuron interactions on network functions.

What fascinates you about your project?

Microglia are the main immune cells of the brain, but their role in regulating neuronal function has only been recognized in recent years. Diving into their specific function in the modulation of interneurons is an exciting new avenue of research.

How did you come to work in the field of Neuroscience?

Not a straightforward path, but after studying pharmacy I entered the field of neuroscience through my doctorate on recombinant NMDA receptors. During this time, I developed an increasing interest in neurophysiological topics, in particular how glial cells regulate brain function.

What does your family think you do for a living?

I assume they see me mainly as a university lecturer who does something “with mice” in his research on the side.