- Room 129, Derriford Research Facility, Research Drive, Plymouth, PL6 8BU
- +44 1752 583204
- edgar.kramer@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Professor Edgar Kramer
Professor of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Parkinson's disease
- Dementia
- Clinical neuroscience
- Nervous system damage
- Signal transduction
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
• Professor of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Biomedical Research Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, UK
Qualifications
- 2017-2018 Senior Investigator Scientist, Mouse Models of Neurodegeneration Group, Mammalian Genetics Unit MRC Harwell, UK
- 2016 Research Group Leader, Clinic for Neurology and Institute for Applied Physiology, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Germany
- 2008-2016 Research Group Leader, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), University of Hamburg, Germany
- 2009 Habilitation in Zoology at the Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany
- 2008 Habilitation in Neurobiology at the Department of Biology II LMU in Munich, Germany
- 2001-2008 Postdoc in Neuroscience at the EMBL in Heidelberg and at the Max-Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, Germany
- 1996-2000 PhD in Biochemistry at the IMP, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Austria
- 1991-1996 Studies of Biology (Diploma), University of Konstanz, Germany, and State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York, USA
Roles on external bodies
• Editorial board of the journals: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience; Neural Regeneration Research (NRR); Mental Health and Addiction Research (MHAR); ScienceMatters
• Reviewer board of the journal: Open Journal of Parkinson’s Disease and Treatment
Key publications
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Areas of teaching interest relate to molecular neuroscience in particular neurodegenerative diseases like Morbus Parkinson's disease.
- BHCS5011 Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
- BHCS5012 Contemporary Applications in Neurobiology
- BIOM5006 Project module
- BHSC2001 Biology of Disease (18/AU/SB/M)
- BHSC2018 Systems Physiological Function and Dysfunction
- BHSC3007 Current Issues in Neurobiology
- BHSC3001 Personal Research Projects
Staff serving as external examiners
- University of Helsinki, Finland
- University College London, UK
Research
Research
Research interests
• Cell surface proteins of neurons have a multitude of functions during development and maintenance of the nervous system. During development cell surface proteins allow to communicate with the surrounding cells and the extracellular matrix for proper proliferation, migration, differentiation and contact formation in the complex network. But also in the mature and aging nervous system they are needed for electrical activity, neuronal communication, survival and even regeneration. Alterations in cell surface protein signalling have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as motoneuron diseases, Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also in diseases such depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. There are many cross-talks of different cell surface proteins on neuronal membranes which even can be different concerning their localization in axons, dendrites, synapses and other specialized membrane structures. In addition they are connected with the intraneuronal processes by a large amount of signalling and regulatory pathways. So far our knowledge about neuronal cell surface protein interaction, signalling and their physiological function is still limited.
• My research group focuses on investigating the cross-talk and function of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptors, such as the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret, the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), integrins, N-cadherins, and syndecan 3 in the midbrain dopaminergic system altered in PD patients and drug addicts and in motoneurons innervating the skeletal muscles. In addition, we analyse the function of different intracellular proteins encoded by genes mutated or linked to PD. We study their signalling mechanisms on a molecular and cellular level as well as in intact animals. Therefore, we use diverse experimental approaches such as molecular biological techniques, cell culture, mouse genetics, histology, as well as behavioural and physiological experiments.
• To enhance the analysis of the midbrain dopaminergic and the peripheral nervous system we also developed unique tools for genetic manipulation and in vivo and in vitro imaging and quantification.
Other research
Besides our interest to understand the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases and to develop corresponding treatments, we are also interested in other disease such as drug addiction and cancer as well as neurodevelopmental alterations.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Other academic activities
Colleagues:
- James Conway
- Grant Kinsman
- Annabel Witted
Links
<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Edgar_Kramer">Edgar Kramer on ResearchGate</a>