Lena Burbulla

Prof. Dr. Lena Burbulla is a Principal Investigator at DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases) and LMU Munich, affiliated with the Department of Metabolic Biochemistry. She leads research on molecular pathways in neurodegeneration, focusing on Parkinson's disease (PD) and Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) disorders.

• Research Focus: Biomedical Neuroscience, Cellular & Systems Neuroscience
• Methods: iPSC technology for human disease models, genomic approaches, functional physiological assays
• Key Areas: Dopamine metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, lysosomal pathology, neuron-glia crosstalk

  Her work highlights species-specific differences in dopamine metabolism, identifying toxic dopamine byproducts (quinones, DOPAL) and their role in alpha-synuclein accumulation. Translational studies explore small molecule modulators and drug repurposing to target these mechanisms.

  Contact:

  • Email: Lena.Burbulla@med.uni-muenchen.de
  • Email: lena.burbulla@dzne.de
  • Phone: +49 (0)89 / 4400-46493

  Current Student: Annika Wagener (GSN).