Dr. Franziska E. Müller
Junior PI
Cellular Neurophysiology | Hannover Medical School
SCIENTIFIC PROFILE
My research focuses on astrocytes and their contribution to brain function in health and disease. I am particularly interested in how astrocyte morphology, intracellular Ca2+ signaling and neuromodulatory pathways shape neuron-glia communication.To address these topics, I combine functional imaging, quantitative microscopy, genetically encoded biosensors and experimental models ranging from primary cells to acute brain slices and human iPSC-derived astrocytes.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Astrocyte structure and Function
I am fascinated by Astrocytes and their highly complex morphology and dynamic intracellular Ca2+ activity. We investigate how these two properties are linked and how they differ between brain regions and during disease-associated remodeling.
Serotonergic signaling in astrocytes
A long-standing focus of my research is the role of serotonin receptors in astrocytes. We study how serotonin receptors, particularly 5-HT4R and 5-HT7R, regulate astrocyte morphology, function and communication with neurons.
Glia in inflammation and neurodegeneration
We investigate how inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes alter astrocyte function. Current projects include human iPSC-derived astrocyte models, Tau-associated pathology and the effects of systemic inflammation on the brain.
Heart-brain communication
Myocardial infarction induces systemic inflammatory and neurohumoral changes that may also affect the brain. We study region-specific glial responses after myocardial infarction and their potential consequences for astrocyte and neuronal function.
EXPERTISE
Functional imaging
- Two-photon excitation microscopy
- Confocal and spinning-disk microscopy
- Live-cell and acute brain-slice imaging
- Ca2+ imaging
- Quantitative morphology and Ca2+ analysis
Molecular and optical tools
- AAV design and application
- Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators and biosensors
- Cell-type-specific expression strategies
Experimental models
- Primary astrocyte and neuron cultures
- Human iPSC-derived astrocytes
- Acute brain slices
- Transgenic mouse models
- Stereotactic AAV injection
TEAM
Dr. Frauke S. Bahr, Postdoc
Eva-Maria Breuer, PhD student
Lara Haake, MD student
Kiara Liening, MD student
Felix T. Bichelmeier, MD student
Markus P. Schirmer, MD student
Nils Benen, MD student
Carla Sträter, MD student
Flavian Ivanov, MD student
Anne-Catharine Studt, MD student
Anna-Lena Krüger, BTA
DEGREES AND ACADEMIC CAREER
| Since 2025 | Junior PI, Hannover Medical School, Cellular Neurophysiology |
| 2020-2025 | Postdoc, Hannover Medical School, Cellular Neurophysiology |
| 2015–2020 | Dr. rer. nat., University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Center for Systems Neuroscience |
| 2012–2015 | M.Sc. Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover |
| 2009–2012 | B.Sc. Combined Studies Biology and Geography, University of Vechta |
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Müller FE, Ivanov F, Studt A-C, Nitzsche I, Bahr FS, Krüger A-L, Labus J, Singh G, Ponimaskin EG, Lenk K, Zeug A. LPS-induced inflammation differentially affects endogenous Ca2+ activity in mouse and human iPSC-derived astrocytes. Mol Med 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-026-01450-3.
Müller FE*, Bahr FS*, Erschow S, Kasten M, Heimerl M, Benen N, Jung M, Schmidt A, Scherr M, Falk CS, Bustamante C, Ponomarev I, Bauersachs J, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Thum T, Ponimaskin EG, Ricke-Hoch M. Serotonin 5-HT7 receptor signaling modulates inflammatory responses and survival after myocardial infarction. J Transl Med 2026;24:787. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-026-08423-4.
Bahr FS*, Müller FE*, Kasten M, Benen N, Sieve I, Scherr M, Falk CS, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Ricke-Hoch M, Ponimaskin E. Serotonin receptor 5-HT7 modulates inflammatory-associated functions of macrophages. Cell Mol Life Sci 2025;82:51.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-024-05570-z.
Müller FE*, Cherkas V*, Stopper G*, Caudal LC, Stopper L, Kirchhoff F, Henneberger C, Ponimaskin EG, Zeug A. Elucidating regulators of astrocytic Ca2+ signaling via multi-threshold event detection (MTED). Glia 2021;69:2798–811. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.24070.
For the complete publication record, please see ORCID, Google Scholar and Scopus.