Our lab combines basic research with translational approaches to identify mechanisms underlying physiological function and pathophysiological dysfunction of ion channels that are clinically relevant for human diseases. We focus on endo-lysosomal cation channels such as ligand-gated two-pore-loop channels (TPC) and the mucolipin family of transient receptor potential channels (TRPML). In addition, we work on plasma membrane inserted channels such as hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels (HCN), the vanilliod family of transient receptor potential channels (TRPV), and on voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) and chloride channels (CLC).
Our work relates to a broad spectrum of clinically relevant human diseases prevalent in western countries such as non-alcoholic fatty liver hepatitis, hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, epilepsy and pain as well as rare diseases such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Brugada syndrome and Bartter syndrome. For these projects, we utilize a series of preclinical models combining electrophysiological, protein biochemical and molecular biological approaches with fluorescence imaging and immunochemical analytics.