Research

Research Priorities: Molecular Neuroembryology, sensory cells of the inner ear, evolution and development of the auditory nerve

Bernd Fritzsch is a neurobiologist and specialised in comparative molecular neuroembryology. His research focus is on the molecular evolution of the sensory cells of the inner ear – auditory cells and neurons – with the aim of elucidating decisive steps during development that could allow to restore the ability to hear. To this end, he also works on the molecular development of the spiral organ, vestibulocochlear organ, the hearing organ of mammals, the spiral ganglion cell, as well as the cochlear nucleus in the brain stem.

Bernd Fritzsch’s early work is focused on the development and the evolution of the innervation of the eye muscles. Together with colleagues at the “Karolinska Institutet” in Stockholm, he showed that the six ocular muscles of the lamprey species of fish are innerved differently and not analogues to other vertebrates . To understand which changes in development such a reorganisation causes, he worked with A. Mahon towards the first “knockout” mouse with cerebral defect, the so-called Wnt1 Zero-Mouse. The researchers were able to show, that the oculomotoric and trochlear motoneurons rely on the proteins Wnt1 and Fgf8 for their normal development. In recent research, Bernd Fritzsch and his colleagues ascertained that mutations at human kinesins , which are a group of motor proteins, lead to mis-innervations and functional limitations of the ocular muscles.

Career

• since 2023 Professor, Medical Center, University of Nebraska, Omaha, USA
• 2020 Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2014-2019 Director, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2014-2018 Director, Center on Aging, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2011-2014 Co-Director, Aging Mind and Brain Initiative, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2008-2016 Professor, Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2004-2007 Vice-Dean of Research, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 2003-2008 Director of “Basic Research“, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1993-2008 Professor, Biomedical Sciences Department, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1991-1993 Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences Department, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1988-1990 Research Fellow, Scripps Institute for Oceanography, University of California (UC) San Diego, San Diego, USA
• 1986-1990 Heisenberg Fellow, German Research Council (DFG), Germany
• 1985 Habilitation, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
• 1981-1986 Assistant Professor, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
• 1978-1981 Assistant Professor, Technical University of (TU) Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
• 1973-1978 Promotion, TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt Germany
• 1968-1973 Studies in Biology, TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

Honours and Memberships

• since 2017  Collegiate Fellow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• since 2015 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Gerrmany
• since 2010 Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), USA
• 2008-2010 Endowed Iowa Entrepreneurial Professor, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
• 2007 Outstanding Mentor Award, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1993 Distinguished Research Career Award, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1991 John C. Kenefick Award, Creighton University, Omaha, USA
• 1986 Heisenberg Fellowship, DFG, Germany
• 1973 Doctoral Scholarship, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Germany
• Member, Vereinigung von Freunden der Technischen Universität zu Darmstadt, Darmstadt
• Member, The New York Academy of Sciences, New York City, USA
• Member, Society for Neuroscience, Washington D.C., USA
• Member, Association for Research in Otolaryngology, Brentwood, USA