Janin Lautenschlager

Dr. Janin Lautenschlager is a Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow and Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), University of Cambridge. She leads a research group focused on protein phase separation at the synapse, with particular emphasis on alpha-synuclein in health and disease. Her work spans multiple strategic themes at CIMR including neurological diseases, rare genetic diseases, membrane trafficking, and protein folding & quality control.

Dr. Lautenschlager's research interests center on understanding protein phase separation and membrane-less organelles at the synapse. Her laboratory combines in-vitro biochemical studies, cellular phase separation assays, and super-resolution imaging in the lamprey reticulospinal giant synapse model to investigate principles of synapse compartmentalization, neuronal function, and dysfunction in disease. Her work has significant implications for understanding neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease, where alpha-synuclein aggregation forms Lewy bodies.

Analysis of Dr. Lautenschlager's publication record reveals a strong focus on alpha-synuclein biology, protein phase separation mechanisms, and their implications for neurodegenerative diseases. Her recent work has explored how synaptic proteins like VAMP2 regulate alpha-synuclein condensates, the role of calcium binding in alpha-synuclein function, and connections between mitochondrial proteostasis and protein aggregation pathologies. Her research integrates cutting-edge techniques including AI approaches to predict liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of synaptic proteins.

Scientific Recognition

• Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship from the Royal Society

Dr. Lautenschlager actively mentors students and researchers in her laboratory, which includes team members Thabiso Shaun Ncube, Celia Antico, Shiyue Chen, Sicheng Han, and Dr. Aswathy Chandran. Her research is supported by multiple prestigious funding sources including The Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust, and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust. She is currently accepting MPhil/PhD students interested in molecular neuroscience and related fields.

Her laboratory also utilizes innovative approaches such as the lamprey giant synapse model to study protein phase separation at the synapse and is developing AI-based methods to predict liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of synaptic proteins.