Frauke Ackermann

Frauke Ackermann, PhD is a Group Leader within the Career Development Fellow Programme at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Berlin. Her research focuses on understanding the interplay between synaptic proteins, neurons, and astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases.

Her work centers on the presynaptic active zone protein Piccolo, which is implicated in Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia type 3 (PCH3) — a severe childhood neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the Piccolo gene. Using Piccolo knockout rat models and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, she investigates how synaptic dysfunction and astrocyte interactions contribute to PCH3 progression, including cerebellar atrophy, motor deficits, and seizures.

Scientific Awards:

• Career Development Fellow, DZNE

Her group employs primary cell cultures, advanced microscopy, and biochemical methods to unravel disease mechanisms and develop human disease models for translational research.