Research Interest

Neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) do not normally regenerate injured axons. This regenerative failure causes severe consequences for victims suffering from traumatic injuries, stroke or certain neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory diseases. The Fischer lab is involved with research to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the failure of axonal regeneration in the CNS. Another goal is the development of novel strategies for CNS repair. To reach these goals the following approaches are used: 1) Screening and identification of novel neuroprotective and axon growth-promoting drugs/factors; 2) Identification and characterization of genes and signaling pathways associated with neuroprotection and axon regeneration; 3) The development and optimization of gene-therapeutic approaches aiming to improve axon regeneration in vivo. 

Selected Publications

1. Sengottuvel V, Leibinger M, Pfreimer M, Andreadaki A, and Fischer D (2011) Taxol facilitates axon regeneration in the mature CNS. J Neuroscience; 16; 31(7): 2688-99 PubMed

2. Fischer D (2010)  What are the principal mediators of optic nerve regeneration after inflammatory stimulation in the eye? Proc Natl Acad Sci.; 107(3): E8 PubMed

3. Hauk TG, Leibinger M, Müller A, Andreadaki A, Knippschild U, Fischer D (2010) Stimulation of axon regeneration in the mature optic nerve by intravitreal application of the toll-like receptor 2 agonist Pam3Cys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.; 51(1): 459-64 PubMed

4. Leibinger M, Müller A, Hauk TG, Andreadaki A, Kirsch M and Fischer D (2009) Neuroprotective and axon growth promoting effects following inflammatory stimulation on mature retinal ganglion cells in mice depend on CNTF and LIF. J. Neuroscience; 29(45): 14334-41 PubMed

5. Müller A, Hauk TG, Leibinger M, Marienfeld RB and Fischer D (2009) Exogenous CNTF stimulates axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells partially via endogenous CNTF. Molecular Cell. Neuroscience; 41(2): 233-46. PubMed

6. Müller A, Hauk TG and Fischer D (2007) Astrocyte derived CNTF switches RGCs to a regenerative state following intraocular inflammation. Brain; 130(Pt 12): 3308-20. PubMed

7. Fischer D, Petkova V, Thanos S and Benowitz LI (2004) Switching mature retinal ganglion cells to a robust growth state in vivo: gene expression and synergy with RhoA inactivation. J. Neuroscience 24(40): 8726-8740 PubMed

8. Fischer D, He Z and Benowitz LI (2004) Counteracting the Nogo receptor enhances optic nerve regeneration if retinal ganglion cells are in an active growth state.J. Neuroscience, 18; 24(6): 21646-21651 PubMed

9. Gooley JJ, Lu J, Fischer D and Saper CB (2003) A broad role for melanopsin in non-visual photoreception. J. Neuroscience 23(18): 7093-7106 PubMed

10. Yin Y, Cui Q, Li Y, Irvine N, Fischer D, Harvey AR and Benowitz LI (2003) Macrophage-derived factors stimulate optic nerve regeneration.
J. Neuroscience 23(6): 2284-2293 PubMed