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April 2010

Nature Genetics paper:
Researchers Find Genetic Variants Linked to Smoking Behaviors
For full-lenght article please click here
April 2010

Published in Science:
New AMPA (glutamate) receptor interacting protein discovered

New sensitive proteomics technologies of the CNCR research team of Ka Wan Li allowed the discovery of a novel protein interacting with AMPA receptors.


For full-lenght article please click here
For abstract, please click here
March 2010

Groups of Posthuma and Verhage apply novel functional gene group analysis and detect a role for G-proteins in cognitive ability

For full-length article please click here
 
March 2010

June 30-July 2, 2010
FENS Satellite Meeting
"GABA signalling and brain networks"
Venue: CNCR, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
Organizer: Yehezkel Ben-Ari (INMED, France)
Contact person: Ms Marie-Aurélie Elkurd (email)
Please click here for website

Please click here for the 'CNCR' special issue of Frontiers in Neuroscience related to this meeting.
March 2010

CNCR researchers recently received two NWO investment grants of in total € 1,675.000 to develop new imaging techniques for studying synapses in vitro and in vivo.

For full-length article please click here
January 2010

Registration for the Synapse Symposium open now!

The Synapse Symposium 2010 is an open, joint meeting of EU-SYNAPSE, EUROSPIN and SYNSYS. These three European consortia study synapse function and dysfunction.

The aim of the meeting is to bring together junior and senior neuroscientists working on synapses and to provide a forum for new directions and ideas in synapse research
Please visit the Symposium website here!
The BrainTrain project co-ordinated by Dr. Heidi de Wit is awarded a Marie Curie grant of total 3,5 million euro.

For full-length article please click here
August 2009

CNCR organizes an international symposium on MOLECULAR NEUROIMAGING on Dec 1st 2009 at NEMO in Amsterdam.

Speakers include leading scientists from the Netherlands and the UK: Burrone, Mansvelder, Emptage, Borst, Lagnado and Silver.

Please click here for the program and registration information
June 2009

EUROSPIN project granted with maximal score

Prof. Matthijs Verhage (FGA), together with the CNCR spin-off company Synaptologics will receive in total Euro 1.5M for their research as partners in the FP7 integrated project EUROSPIN that will perform systematic functional analyses of synaptic genes implicated in human brain disorders and that was funded this month by the EU after receiving the maximal score (15/15).

For full-length article please click here or visit
http://www.eurospin.mpg.de
 
June 2009

Nobel Prize winner Prof. Bert Sakmann visits CNCR

Prof. Bert Sakmann joins in vivo electrophysiology experiments at the CNCR.

For full-length article please click here
May 2009

Known expert in the epidemiology and statistics of genetics, dr. Peter Visscher will make a total of three visits to the VU/ CNCR. Visscher received a TOP visiting professorship grant, subsidised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
For full-length article please click here

March 2009

TIM is here!

A novel imaging microscope will be developed at CNCR to optimally combine photo-manipulation and life cell imaging after receiving a € 420k NWO investment grant

Prof. Matthijs Verhage and his colleagues at FGA designed a new microscope, which they named Tandem Illumination Microscope (TIM). The NWO grant will now make this plan reality.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

January 2009

Dr. Ruud Toonen, in collaboration with Drs. Hoogenraad (Erasmus MC, Rotterdam) and Dr. Pasterkamp (UMCU, Utrecht), receives a € 670k ZonMW TOP grant to study the role of axonal guidance molecules in synaptic functions.

 For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

November 2008

“VU scientists Hans van Beek (Medical Genomics/ VUmc, CNCR) and Thomas Binsl (Bioinformatics, VU) together with Koen Verhoef of the Technology Transfer Office VU/VUmc won the Venture Challenge award of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

September 2008

Modelling the flexible brain

Until now, computer models of neuronal networks regarded network structure and intrinsic neuronal properties as largely static. Arjen van Ooyen and his group won a NWO and a EU grant to develop dynamic models of neural functioning.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here
July 2008

Addicted to the synapse

Michel van den Oever did his PhD project on biochemical alterations in the brain that make individuals prone to fail in their abstinence of addictive substances. Part of his thesis is to be published in Nature Neuroscience, another article is still to be submitted.

For full-length article please click here
June 2008

Researchers of CNCR and Radboud University of Nijmegen have received an NWO-grant to develop a dynamic model which will provide more knowledge about the presynaptic gene network underlying short-term plasticity in neuronal synapses. For the first time Bayesian machine learning techniques will be applied in dynamic modelling of the synapse.

For full-length article please click here
June 2008

Professor Marjo van der Knaap receives the NWO-Spinoza Prize 2008

The Spinozaprize is the largest Dutch award in science. Each researcher receives one-and-a-half million euros to freely devote to his or her research.
Prof. van der Knaap received the prestigious prize for her outstanding, pioneering and inspiring scientific work.

Prof. van der Knaap and her group joined the CNCR in September 2006.

For full-length article please click here
March 2008

Multidisciplinary CNCR-team receives a ZonMW TOP grant

For full-length article please click here

March 2008

Guus Smit coordinates European large-scale genomics grant NeuroCypres

For full-length article please click here

December 2007

Dorret Boomsma has received a four year ZonMW grant for 730.000 euro to dig into the genetics influencing the development of sub-stance abuse.
For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

October 2007

CNCR joins the Network of European Neuroscientist Institutes.

Please click here for full-length article!
June 2007

Functional Genomics is the strongest department within the CNCR!


Fun in the sun at the INW labday.

CNCR Mouse Behavior Course 2007
In vivo pheontyping of mutant rodents: integrating neural activity, heart rate and behavior

To see the picture of the participants and lecturers of this very successful course from September please click here

May 2007

Both Dutch and CNCR neuroinformatics move ahead

The CNCR Neuroinformatics group has been joined by Jaap van Pelt. He will coordinate the National Node in Neuroinformatics in the Netherlands.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

May 2007

From the 8th tot the 11th of May the Dutch Royal Academy housed the NWO sponsored Advance Study Initiative on ‘Integrating Imaging and Genetics in Cognitive Research’.
The meeting was organized by CNCR members de Geus, Posthuma and Boomsma and featured top level speakers from the field of Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging Genetics.

See www.imaginggenetics.org for details.

REMINDER - REMINDER - REMINDER - REMINDER

Deadline for early registration: 1 May 2010
Late registration still open.

March 2010

Life events moderate the heritability of cognitive ability

CNCR researchers Annabelle Vinkhuyzen, Sophie van der Sluis and Danielle Posthuma found that going through major life events changes the relative influence of genes on cognitive ability. Their results are available online and will be published in Molecular Psychiatry.

For full-lenght article please click here

New insights in mechanism of spontaneous neurotransmitter release

The CNCR team of Sander Groffen and Matthijs Verhage discovered that the Doc2b gene is a Ca2+-sensor responsible for triggering spontaneous release events. Their findings are published as a full length article in the accelerated online version of Science on Febr 11th, 2010.

Click here for the story

Link to Abstract

Link to Reprint
September 2009

CNCR researchers resolve the docking step ot the secretory pathway and publish their work in Cell.

CNCR researchers Heidi de Wit and Matthijs Verhage have solved the previously unknown mechanism by which secretory vesicles dock at the target membrane in preparation for secretion.  Together with their collaborators from Göttingen, Germany, they present a working model for docking in this month’s issue of Cell.

For full-length article please click here
September 2009

Several PhD postitions available on BrainTrain project!

Click here for more information on the project and the vacancies
June 2009

Evidence for a causal link between PCLO/ Piccolo and major depression.

By exploiting available information on the joint inheritance among different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene, CNCR researcher Zoltan Bochdanovits, shows in the current issue of Molecular Psychiatry that a causal link between the disease and a variation in the presynaptic gene PCLO very likely exists. Previous results from multi-replication cohorts had remained inconclusive. The variation associated with the disease changes the amino acid sequence of the Piccolo protein. This opens exciting new possibilities to study the biological basis of depression.

For full-length article please click here
June 2009

CNCR researcher Danielle Posthuma, in collaboration with Peter Hagoort and Guillén Fernandez (FC Donders Centre Nijmegen), won a NWO Open Competition grant with a proposal that aims to integrate neurogenetics with the field of neuroimaging. This will improve her understanding of the interaction between intellectual functioning and the genetic make-up of an individual.

For full-length article please click here
March 2009

Genome-wide association study of smoking initiation and current smoking published in American Journal of Human Genetics

For full-length article please click here
February 2009

New relations between brain oscillations and cognition uncovered by multidisciplinary team led by Klaus Linkenkaer-Hansen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106, p1614-9

Neuronal oscillations are probably the oldest functional measures of living human neurons. However, new ways to analyze these ‘brain waves’ can still yield important novel information on complex cognitive processes in the brain and what is different in Alzheimer patients. .

For full-length article please click here
December 2008

Gain Initiative on Major Depressive Disorder delivers new gene for depression: Piccolo
Five CNCR departments collaborated in a genome-wide association study for Major Depressive Disorder led by Brenda Penninx (NESDA) and Dorret Boomsma (NTR) together with several international groups.

advance online publication Molecular Psychiatry, 9 December

For full-length article please click here
August 2008

VU psychologist Dorret Boomsma receives major grant
Twin research into the causes of depression

Professor of Biological Physiology Dorret Boomsma at VU University Amsterdam is to receive an ERC Advanced Grant of 2.5 million euros, the European Research Council announced. This grant for exceptional research leaders gives Boomsma the opportunity to conduct further research into genetic aspects of mental disorders. In 2001 Boomsma received the Spinoza Prize, also known as the Dutch Nobel Prize.

For full-length article please click here
August 2008

Together with scientists from Stanford and Baylor, Heidi de Wit and Matthijs Verhage publish a paper in Science on how secretory vesicles are captured at the target membrane in preparation for release.

For full-length article please click here

June 2008

Three CNCR students receive NWO TopTalent award

Three promising researchers committed themselves to the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research for their PhD studies. They won the prestigious NWO TopTalent Grant, which allows them to pursue their own line of investigations.

For full-length article please click here
June 2008

Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis of Multiple Measures of Neuroticism of 2 Large Cohorts From Australia and the Netherlands
Dr. Christel Middeldorp and Prof. Dr. Dorret Boomsma of the CNCR publish the results of new research in the Archives of General Psychiatry, together with their Australian colleagues.

For full-length article please click here
May 2008

For the first time proof of association of depression and decreased serum 25 (OH) D levels
Prof. Dr. Witte Hoogendijk, CNCR, and co-workers* publish the results of new research in the Archives of General Psychiatry

For full-length article please click here
April 2008

CNCR joins Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology

For full-length article please click here
February 2008

Book presentation on “Twin Research”

How strong is the influence of the genetic layout on health and disease? Why are twins born, how many of them are born and what are their qualities and strengths? With the book “Tweelingenonderzoek. Wat meerlingen vertellen over de mens.”, which was presented on 13 February at the VU University, this and many other questions are covered and discussed. Editor of the book is prof. Dorret Boomsma, professor for Biological Psychology. A large group of twins was present at this event.

For full-length article (in Dutch) please click here

December 2007

Brenda Penninx receives a ZonMW grant for research in alcohol use disorder (AUD)

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

September 2007

Prof. dr. Taco de Vries is newly appointed professor of Behavioral Neurosciences at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here
September 2007

Workshop genetic data analysis, October 1 - 4, sponsored by CNCR and CMSB

Please find attached the announcement for a 4 day workshop in Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit), focusing on genetic epidemiological and association analyses in Mx and Plink.
Registration is free, participants should arrange their own travel and hotel. 30 participants can be admitted.

Please click here for further information

July 2007

A novel mechanism for evoked responses in the human brain. Ongoing oscillations show an unexpected contribution to evoked responses. Only the third mechanism ever discovered.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

Foto: NWO/Arie Wapenaar
May 2007

Sabine Schmitz, PhD-student at the department of Functional Genomics, received a prestigious Toptalent grant from NWO.

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

May 2007

Mansvelder-lab article appears in Neuron

Neurons from fragile X mouse show unex-pected synaptic plasticity

Mentally retarded mice show normal learning capabilities, albeit at a higher treshold. This may hold implications for treating mentally retarded children. (Link to PubMed)

For full-lenght arcicle, please click here

Please click here for the article in the "Volkskrant " from 26.5.2007
April 2007

CNCR makes cover-story in Neuron

PKC restored as regulator of synaptic potentiation
Strengthening synapses is essential in learning and memory. CNCR researchers identify an essential player and reinstated a major presynaptic pathway for synaptic potentiation.

See also News&Views in Neuron issue by Eric Jorgensen. Link to PubMed

For full-lenght article, please click here
The CNCR football (soccer) team

Februari 2007

Positive midterm review helps to obtain new funding

A very positive midterm review puts the CNCR is in an excellent position to obtain a new round of funding to further strengthen the links among neuroscientists on campus. On the basis of this review, a proposition for 2008-2011 is recently filed. The Board of the Vrije Universiteit previously defined a positive midterm review as the first prerequisite for further investments.

For full-lenght article, please click here

 

November 2006

CNCR findings published in PNAS

The Munc18-1 protein increases the endurance of neuronal communication during repeated firing and facilitates recuperation of neurons after periods of increased activity. It increases the number of release ready secretory vesicles and speeds up the recruitment of new vesicles after firing. This new mechanism for increasing synaptic efficacy is described by CNCR researchers Ruud Toonen, Keimpe Wierda and colleagues in PNAS of November 17th. “It shows the importance of Munc18-1 as a positive regulator of synaptic transmission.”

For full-lenght article, please click here
October 2006

CNCR research gets unique boost from U.S. genotyping consortium
For full-lenght article, please click here
 
 

 

  


The CNCR corporate
brochure is also available online!



For news 2005/2006 please click here!


For news 2004
please click here!

 
  April 2007

On april 4th, CNCR chairman Matthijs Verhage had the chance to meet the new minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ronald Plasterk, during his informal visit to the VU. Minister Plasterk was especially interested in research, differentiation and campus-synergy. Verhage promoted governmental funding for integrative neuroscience.

March 2007
CNCR researchers describe results in Neuron
Nicotine reduces plasticity in prefrontal cortex

In a recent Neuron article dr. Huib Mansvelder and colleagues from the CNCR dig into the molecular mechanism of nicotine action. They find it to reduce plasticity in prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons. Nicotine reduces dendritic calcium signals associated with action potential propagation by enhancing inhibitory GABAergic transmission. Receptors sensitive to nicotine, acetylcholine receptors, on interneurons seem to mediate the effect.

For full-lenght article, please click here
March 2007

Publication in Nature Genetics

Genetic origin of new white matter disease discovered
A whole new group of diseases that may be the wider implication behind the identification of a mitochondrial protein translation defect as the cause of a rare white matter disease.

For full-lenght article, please click here
  November 2006

Ruud Toonen describes first VENI results in EMBO Journal

As a first output from his VENI grant he received only in december 2005, assistant professor dr. Ruud Toonen from the Functional Genomics Group (CNCR) recently published in The EMBO Journal about the role of the munc-18-1 protein in secretory vesicle docking. Together with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen (Germany) he describes the events that harbour secretory vesicles at their target and prepare them for fusion.

For full-lenght article, please click here

September 2006

Van der Knaap research group formally joins CNCR

“It feels like after a period of living together, we finally got married.” Child neurologist prof. dr. Marjo van der Knaap responds to the formal association of her research group on ‘Childhood White Matter Disorders’ with the CNCR. The transfer has no immediate practical consequences, it confirms existing structures and cooperations. Van der Knaap’s ten person group is already housed near other CNCR groups and scientific cooperations are abundant. “All our collaborations are perfectly natural.”
For full-lenght article, please click here

 

     
   
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