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Pollak, Daniela

Department: Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology
Head: Pollak, Daniela, Univ. Prof. Dr.

Research Area

Neurobiological basis of neuropsychiatric disorders

Description

 

Focus of research

My laboratory is investigating the neurobiological basis underlying psychiatric disorders, focussing on mood and anxiety disorders, as well as addiction. We mainly employ the mouse as a model system, where we use established paradigms to induce behavioural states mimicking human mental illness in wild-type animals as well as employing genetically modified and selectively bred mouse strains. Using the mouse model we carry our analyses from the molecular, to the cellular and behavioural level, aiming to elucidate some of the pathomechanisms involved in some of the most debilitating human diseases. Enhancing our understanding of the etiology of these very complex psychiatric disorders is a prerequisite for the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

 

Techniques

Full-spectrum of behavioral analysis in mice, disease paradigms, basic molecular, biochemical and cell biology techniques, histology and immune-histochemistry, conventional laser and confocal microscopy, tools to investigate neurotransmitter transporter function and epigenetic regulatory principles  


Members

  • Gundacker, Anna, MS.c.
  • Zambon, Alice, MS.c

    • Selected Publications of Principle Investigator

    1. Kong E, Sucic S, Monje F, Savalli G, Diao W, Khan D, Ronovsky M, Cabatic M, Koban F, Freissmuth M, Pollak D (2015) STAT3 controls IL6-dependent regulation of serotonin transporter function and depression-like behavior Sci Rep, 5: 9009
    2. Khan D, Fernando P, Cicvaric A, Berger A, Pollak A, Monje F, Pollak D (2014) Long-term effects of maternal immune activation on depression-like behavior in the mouse Transl Psychiatry, 4 (2): e363
    3. Monje FJ, Cabatic M, Divisch I, Kim EJ, Herkner KR, Binder BR, Pollak DD (2011) Constant darkness induces IL-6 dependent depression-like behaviour through the NFκB signaling pathway J Neurosci, 31(25): 9075-9083
    4. Pollak D, Monje F, Lubec G (2010) The learned safety paradigm as a mouse model for neuropsychiatric research Nat Protoc, 5 (5): 954-962
    5. Pollak D, Monje F, Zuckerman L, Denny C, Drew M, Kandel E (2008) An Animal Model of a Behavioral Intervention for Depression Neuron, 60 (1): 149-161