Lars Kunz

Lars Kunz is a research group leader at the Division of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. He holds the title of PD Dr. (Privatdozent) and is a regular member of the Munich Center for Neuroscience (MCN) and full member of the Graduate School of Neuroscience (GSN). His work bridges neuroenergetics and reproductive endocrinology through experimental and theoretical approaches.

• Key research areas: Neuronal metabolism, Reactive oxygen species (ROS), Auditory system physiology, Gonadal ion channels
• Current affiliates: LMU Research Group, collaborations with Artur Mayerhofer (LMU), Martin Biel (LMU), Hans Straka (LMU), and Magdalena Götz (LMU & HelmholtzZentrum München)

His research focuses on metabolic costs of neuronal activity using Mongolian gerbils for auditory studies and amphibian models for in vivo-like neuroenergetics. Techniques include patch-clamp recordings, fluorescence imaging of NADH/FAD/ATP/ROS, and computational modeling. Recent work explores photodynamic therapy, TRPM2 channels, and endocannabinoid regulation in neural circuits.

Article trends show interdisciplinary work across neuroscience (38%), reproductive biology (32%), and cell signaling (30%). Subfields include neural energy demand, ROS signaling, ion channel physiology, steroidogenesis, optogenetics, and cell death mechanisms. Collaborators span neurophysiology (Grothe, Straka) and reproductive endocrinology (Mayerhofer, Dissen).

Students include Dr. Barbara Trattner and Dr. Stefanie Götz. His lab investigates juxtavascular astrocyte properties, ovarian neuroendocrinology, and photodynamic membrane effects. Methods: whole-cell patch-clamp, live fluorescence imaging, immunohistochemistry, and computational modeling.