10 Things to Know about

Dr. Matthias Haury

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THE MAX PLANCK FLORI DA
INSTITUTE FOR NEUROSCIENCE
NEWSLETTER
Palm Beach Junior Wins Florida
Brain Bee
03
Neuroscience Saturday a Successful
Joint Event
Foundation Update
04
Summer Interns Selected
Research Funding Wrap-up
Understanding the Role (and
Potential) of Chandelier Cells
Obamas BRAIN Project Syncs
With MPFIs Mission
CEO David Fitzpatrick Says Technological Advances Signal
Right Time for Significant Brain Research Investment
A Transformative
Discovery in
Alzheimers
Research
Dr. Ryohei Yasuda
Scientic Director
Winter Lectures: Brain Circuits to
Bug-Beating Plants
ISSUE 01
SUMMER
2 0 1 3
The BRAIN initiative announced
by the Obama administration
this spring was greeted with
excitement and enthusiasm at
the institute, serving as a ringing
endorsement of the research path
the institute has followed from
its inception.
We focus on the development and
implementation of new technologies
that allow us to visualize the struc-
ture, function and development of
neural circuits, said Dr. David Fitzpat-
rick, scientic director and CEO of the
institute. These are exactly what the
BRAIN initiative aims to achieve.
In April, the announcement was
made that the administrations
budget for 2014 will include
$100 million for the project
called BRAIN: Brain Research
through Advancing Innovative
Neurotechnologies (BRAIN).
Neuroscientists hope BRAIN will
allow them to map the connec-
tions between individual neurons
and large circuits of neurons to
unlock the secrets behind Alz-
heimers, autism, strokes, trau-
matic brain injuries (TBIs), and a
number of psychiatric disorders.
While the brain mapping project has
been compared to mapping the hu-
man genome and to President John
F. Kennedys challenge to land a
human on the moon, Dr. Eric Kandel,
a researcher who won a Nobel Prize
in 2000 for his research on the brain,
told CBS news this will be harder.
Going to the moon I dont mean
to in any way minimize it was in
part an engineering project, said
Dr. Kandel of Columbia Universi-
ty. This [brain research] is going
into the unknown. This is like
Columbus discovering America.
But Dr. Fitzpatrick said there could
not be a better time than now to
invest in unraveling the mysteries
of the brain. In the last ve years,
he said, weve cracked open the
door to innovative technologies that
make what we would have said
is impossible nally possible.
Almost everyone has a friend or
family member affected by a brain
disorder. There are more hospital-
izations for brain-related disorders
than for any of the other disease
groups, so its a huge problem,
and the cost is also huge -- about
$700 billion annually in the U.S.
Whats limiting our progress in
understanding brain disorders and
developing effective treatments? I
would argue it is our lack of under-
standing of the fundamental princi-
ples of brain organization. You cant
x it if you dont know how it works.
Recent advances in the tools that
enable scientists to observe the
brain in action makes this the
right time to move forward.
By bringing together the world of
physics and molecular biology, Dr.
Fitzpatrick said, we have entered a
new era of research where scientists
can look into the brain with light,
visualize large numbers of individ-
ual neurons, and literally watch the
activity in these neurons while the
brain is performing its functions.
Ultimately when a person shows
up in a clinic, we will be able to do a
series of tests that will allow us to
diagnose how the balance of activity
within their neural circuits has been
altered and what needs to be done
to bring that imbalance back into a
normal range. I dont know how many
years it is going to take to achieve
this, but the information that will
come from the BRAIN project will
lay the foundation for making this
a reality, Dr. Fitzpatrick offered.
You cant fix it
if you dont know
how it works.
Dr. David Fitzpatrick,
Scientic Director and CEO
BRAIN
WAVES
A study led by MPFI researchers has discov-
ered a signaling protein that appears to cause
neuronal dysfunction associated with Alzhei-
mers disease. The discovery of the protein,
called centaurin-1 (CentA1) was a signicant
breakthrough for the research team led by Dr.
Ryohei Yasuda, Scientic Director.
As part of the research, scientists were able
to identify CentA1 and measure its negative
effect on neurons. Using an RNA silencing
technique, they were also able to show that
affected neurons, exhibiting Alzheimers re-
lated symptoms, returned to normal function
when they turned down the production of the
CentA1 protein.
This study transforms our understanding of
the direct cause of Alzheimers disease, said
Dr. Yasuda. With further research, we may
open up an entirely new avenue for treat-
ments to combat this disease.
Results of the study were published in the
Journal of Neuroscience.
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10 Things to Know about
Dr. Matthias Haury
Dr. Matthias Haury was appointed chief
operating ofcer of the Max Planck Flori-
da Institute for Neuroscience in February.
Previously, he was Head of Science Op-
erations at COST (European Cooperation
in Science and Technology), a European
Commission-funded intergovernmental
organization based in Brussels that coor-
dinates nationally funded research pro-
grams. A trained immunologist with more
than 15 years of laboratory experience,
Dr. Haury has also held leadership posi-
tions at the European Molecular Biology
Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany and
the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC)
in Oeiras, Portugal. We caught up with
him to get his thoughts on his new role...
and a few other topics.
1
How he sees his role: My job is
to manage the overall functioning
of the institute to free the scien-
tic directors and our CEO from daily
operations so they can concentrate on
the science.
2
The exciting opportunity (and
challenge) of working at MPFI:
This is such a unique, ambitious
project. We are introducing a Europe-
an style scientic research institution
into one of the most exciting markets
in science anywhere the U.S. Such
a marriage of cultures is a big chal-
lenge. We have to make sure European
expectations adjust to the reality of the
American science environment. Also, for
the American side, there is the chal-
lenge of gaining a full understanding of
what the original Max Planck philosophy
is all about.
3
The opportunity of the National
BRAIN Project: The challenge for
us and the Jupiter science com-
munity is that we are not sufciently well
known in Washington (and the rest of the
nation)... yet. We have a budget of over
$17 million that we invest in neuroscience
research precisely the type the brain
initiative is seeking to promote. Thus, our
objective is to be considered as one of
the major players for the National Brain
Project in the future.
4
The role of networking and col-
laboration today in scientic
research: Our science research is
becoming more and more complex, so its
less and less possible for a single individ-
ual to craft overall solutions to complex
problems. The bedrock of good collab-
oration is face-to-face networking. But
technologies like video conferencing and
social media are now also helping people
to stay in touch with new developments
and discoveries in a very signicant man-
ner. We have to ensure that Max Planck
Florida is active on these channels, so
were exploring hosting a small but highly
visible subset of scientic courses, con-
ferences and workshops locally, to allow
face-to-face networking, and were taking
steps to build our social media presence
as well.
5
What he likes about the U.S.:
I lived in Birmingham, Alabama
in 1989 for a year on a Fulbright
fellowship, and I spent 1994 in San Fran-
cisco on a post-doc at UCSF. As a Euro-
pean, I appreciate the positive attitude
of Americans in general, even in times of
crisis or difculties. People in the U.S. see
a problem and say we have to work and
get out of this, rather than complaining
and contemplating about the difculty of
the situation. You get much more positive
feedback from everybody if you are trying
to kick start something in the U.S. than
is often the case in Europe. That, to me,
is something Europeans may still learn
from Americans.
And 5 other things you
might not know about
Dr. Haury:
6
He took his family piranha shing on
the Amazon River last summer. You
can catch piranha on a bare hook,
he said. The kids were so excited!
7
He speaks ve languages (Portu-
guese, French, Spanish, German and
English) although languages were
his weakest subjects in school.
8
His wife, Paula, a native Colombian,
is happy to be back closer to latin
territory so the kids can continue to
expand on their Spanish and experi-
ence their South American culture.
9
His two boys may be more inclined
towards music than science. The
older one plays piano and the
younger one is an accomplished
autist.
10
He enjoys classical music and also
plays the piano, but describes his
musical tastes in general as eclec-
tic. With the boys now, were very
into French rap, he said.
Recent grants to MPFI
researchers total more
than $5.75 million
Jason Christie was awarded a grant
for $2.1 million over a 5-year period
by the National Institute of Neuro-
logical Disorders and Stroke of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr.
Christies research focuses on the funda-
mental aspects of neurotransmission at
synapses, the point-to-point connections
between neurons.
Understanding the Role (and
Potential) of Chandelier Cells
For a layperson to understand the excit-
ing questions about neural circuitry that
Dr. Taniguchi is asking - and what the
answers could mean to treating disorders
like epilepsy - it helps to have a basic
understanding of how nerve cells work.
Think of the radio transmission of an
audio signal. The activity of nerve cells
is accompanied by a strong background
noise, so the signal has to be transmitted
by a system of parallel lines, allowing for
a redundancy of the information. At every
neural connection level, the signal must
be amplied and the noise reduced. To
get the message across, neurons have to
shout together. Excitatory neurons play
a role in the volume of the sound, and
inhibitory neurons play a key role in mod-
ulating or focusing the sound. Both need
to be in sync for a clear signal.
Dr. Taniguchi is one of the leading experts
on chandelier cells, which are the most
powerful of the neural inhibitory cells.
Understanding their role in regulating
the behavior of excitatory cells
appears to be a key to understanding
the pathology of a number of
disorders, including epilepsy,
velopment of neurons in the living brain.
Developments from the world of physics
in visualization technologies have made
it possible, with laser-powered micro-
scopes, to see into the living brain. Drs.
Young and Fitzpatrick, working together,
plan to develop a viral vector to take
this visualization forward to enhance
understanding of neurons that use the
inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma
aminobutyric acid (GABA). Alteration in
the function of these neurons has been
implicated in a number of brain disor-
ders including epilepsy, schizophrenia
and depression.
Dr. Hiroki Taniguchi was awarded
$100,000 by Citizens United for
Research in Epilepsy (CURE) to
further his study of cellular struc-
tures implicated in disorders such
as epilepsy and schizophrenia.
Dr. Taniguchi is studying whether
transplantation of chandelier cells
can restore balance between excitato-
ry and inhibitory neurons and diminish
or revert seizure activities in pre-clin-
ical models of epilepsy. Dr. Taniguchi
was also awarded roughly $488,000
over three years by the Japan Science
& Technology Agency to further his
study of inhibitory neurons.
Dr. Samuel Young has received two
separate awards totaling $147,000
from the Michael J. Fox Foundation
for Parkinsons Research (MJFF)
for his work to develop better models
for the study of Parkinsons Disease to
advance development of treatments.
Ryohei Yasuda was awarded $2.4
million over a 5-year period from
the National Institute of Mental
Health of the NIH. The project will
focus on the role of signaling mecha-
nisms that control the synapses ability
to modulate its activity to facilitate
varying demands and drive behaviors
such as learning and memory.
Dr. Samuel Young and Dr. David
Fitzpatrick were awarded $522,000
over two years from the National
Eye Institute, also an NIH institute.
The goal of this project is to develop
the next generation of molecular tools
to probe the structure, function and de-
Dr. Matthias Haury, chief operating
ofcer of MPFI
RESEARCH SPOTLI GHT
RECENT RESEARCH FUNDI NG
QUESTI ONS & ANSWERS
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Newsletter
|
SUMMER 2013
MPFI Research Group Leader
Dr. Hiroki Taniguchi was recently selected
as one of two honorable mention recipients
of the 2013 Daniel X. Freedman Award by
the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
autism and schizophrenia.
To date, primary treatments for epilep-
sy involve anticonvulsant medications,
which are ineffective in 30% of patients
and often can have signicant side effects
even when they work.
While the cause of epilepsy is not clear,
one of the most plausible hypotheses
is that there is an imbalance between
excitatory and inhibitory neurons.
Dr. Taniguchi and his research group are
using chandelier cells as a model case to
better understand that neural interactivity.
The use of chandelier cells has the
potential to revolutionize our treatment
of epilepsy, he said. If transplanting in-
hibitory neurons works, we might uncover
a cure rather than simply treatments for
epilepsy, involving signicantly less side
effects than anticonvulsant medications
used in current treatments.
The research group leaders work on
the origin of chandelier cells in pre-clin-
ical models was published in Science
Magazine. And his work at MPFI recently
has received signicant grant support
($100,000) from Citizens United for
Research in Epilepsy (CURE), and from
the Japan Science & Technology Agency
($488,000 over three years).
Dr. Hiroki Taniguchi leads the research group on Development and Function
of Inhibitory Neural Circuits, which is gaining a better understanding of the
role inhibitory cells may play in epilepsy and other disorders.
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From Brain Circuits to Bug-Beating
Plants
The popular winter lecture series presented by MPFI marked its third year
in 2013 and provided the greater Palm Beach community with two very
different opportunities to ponder some of the mysteries of science.
Palm Beach Junior Wins
Florida Brain Bee

Anastasia Colas, a Royal Palm Beach High School junior, was the
winner of the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neurosciences 2013 Brain Bee
Challenge, earning her a $200 prize and trip to Baltimore, MD to compete
against several dozen other regional winners at the National Brain Bee at
the University of Maryland. The Brain Bee is a community-focused science
education enrichment effort open to high school students. It is organized
as an oral competition, similar to a spelling bee in format and designed to
test students knowledge of neuroscience through questions on such topics
as memory, intelligence, stress, emotions and brain disorders. This years
event was sponsored by the Mary and Robert Pew Public Education Fund.
n Kirill Safin, a rising junior from Atlantic
Community High School, will be an intern in Dr.
James Schummers lab.
n Ximena Hasbach, a rising senior from Alexander
W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, will be an intern in
Dr. Hyungbae Kwons lab.
n James Hamilton, a rising senior from Atlantic
Community High School, will intern in Dr. Ryohei
Yasudas lab.
n Zhaoqi Li, a rising junior from Suncoast
Community High School, will be an intern in Dr.
Ryohei Yasudas lab.
n Richard Antonello, a rising senior from Boca
Raton Community High School, will be an intern in
Dr. Long Yans lab.
n Miranda Craighead, a rising junior from Jupiter
Community High School, will be an intern in Dr.
Naomi Kamasawas lab.
Neuroscience Saturday a
Successful Joint Event
Max Planck Florida and Scripps Florida collaborated to debut the first Neuroscience
Saturday, a program designed to reach high school students in underserved
communities and inspire new interest in a science-based career.
Groups of students and teachers from four Palm Beach County Title I high
schools traveled to Jupiter to spend a unique day investigating the intricacies
of neuroscience. Activities included a brain dissection, a speed competition,
where students role played different parts of a neuron to discover how
signals travel through the brain, and a neurophysiological experiment, where
students recorded the electric activity from nerve impulses in an insects leg.
Dr. Ana Fiallos, MPFIs Head of Education Outreach; 2nd place winner Sanjay
Chandrasekhar of Suncoast High School; 3rd place winner Anugya Sood of Sun-
coast High School; 1st place winner Anastasia Colas of Royal Palm Beach High
School; and Louise Grant, Mary and Robert Pew Public Education Fund.
Students get a lesson on the wonders of the brain from the MPFIs Laura Conatser.
Enriching science education is an important component of the Max Planck Society philosophy
around the world. The Max Planck Florida Institute is committed to offering programs and activities
to enhance and foster understanding of bioscience research at all levels of education.
EDUCATION OUTREACH
Dr. David Fitzpatrick, scientic director and CEO of MPFI.
SUMMER 2013
|
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Newsletter
BRAI N BEE CHALLENGE
Summer Interns Selected
Six promising high school students were selected to participate in the MPFI
internship program this summer
WI NTER LECTURES
These free events feature internationally
recognized scientists who discuss their
work on a variety of topics which address
some of the most pressing problems and
concerns. They provide an insight into
scientic questions and challenges our
researchers face every day in their labs.
Dr. David Fitzpatrick, scientic director
and CEO of MPFI, kicked off the series
by providing insights into the various
research efforts under way at the insti-
tute aiming to shed more light on the
operation of brain circuits. He prefaced
his discussion by noting that how much
we know about the brain is dwarfed still
by how much we dont know. That lack of
understanding, he said, limits our ability
to design new treatments and therapies
for brain disorders. As Max Planck said,
Insight precedes application. At MPFI
today, that has morphed to become, You
cant x it if you dont know how it works.
And in a way, it perfectly denes the neu-
roscientists working at the institute: they
want to know how the brain works.
At the second lecture, Dr. Ian Baldwin
of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical
Ecology discussed the importance of
training todays biologists to be as nimble
in eld observation as they are with the
most powerful tools for cellular-molecu-
lar-developmental study in the laborato-
ry. He calls them genome-enabled eld
biologists (GEFBs) and noted that too
many graduate training programs steer
students in one direction or another rath-
er than teaching them to be adept both
at using powerful biology tools and in the
art of natural discovery. As illustration,
he noted several examples, including how
GEFBs discovered the way some plants
solved insect problems with their own
very sophisticated use of chemistry.
The Quantum Foundation of Palm Beach County sponsored the program with
a $25,000 grant.
The secondary school summer internship
program is open to students who are residents
of Palm Beach County and are preparing to
enter their junior or senior year. The internship
program offers aspiring scientists an immersive
laboratory experience with MPFI researchers,
and is designed for students with an interest in
the structure and function of the brain.

The high school interns participate in
research projects alongside MPFI scientists,
prepare a written scientific abstract based
on their research project and deliver a short
presentation at the end of the summer.
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience Newsletter
|
SUMMER 2013
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1. Dr. David Fitzpatrick, Scientic Director and CEO of the MPFI tours guests through the
labs in the new building 2. Jackie and John Hannon 3. German State Secretary Cornelia
Quennet-Thielen, Nasser and Yvonne Kazeminy, Dr. Peter Gruss, President of the Max
Planck Society 4. David and Nancy Auth, Dr. Barbara Meyer and Dr. Peter Gruss 5. George
Michel and Alex Dreyfoos 6. Carl Minardo, Vice President of the Max Planck Florida Foun-
dation and Ellen Laird Regnery of Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger law rm and member of the
Foundations Planned Giving Council accept a corporate donation from David Hamilton, Vice
President and Regional Corporate Banker at BB&T 7. Greg Novak, Barbara and Mike Mitrione 8. Alexander and
Renate Dreyfoos, George Elmore 9. Dr. McLean Bolton and Esta Jacobson 10. Pat and Howard Lester 11. Sydelle
Meyer, John and Anne McKendrick 12. Carl Minardo, Larry Rosensweig, Executive Director of the Palm Beach
Region of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Lawrence Greenberg and Marshall
Levin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Committee. 13. Jeff and Katy Amling, and Mark Cook
14. Carolyn and Richard Sloane
Photo credit: Tracey Benson Photography & Lucien Capehart Photography
If youre interested in having
a Max Planck Florida Institute
researcher present at your
next meeting or special event,
please call Stephanie Langlais
(561) 972-9024.
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A
K
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Interested in having a Max Planck Florida
Institute researcher present at your next
meeting or special event?
Contact Stephanie Langlais at (561) 972-9024
or Stephanie.Langlais@mp.org.
P One Max Planck Way Jupiter, FL 33458
q (561) 972-9000 Bmaxplanckorida.org
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A SEASON OF SCI ENCE SUPPORT
A SEASON OF SCI ENCE SUPPORT