Natalia Rodriguez-Muela

Dr. Natalia Rodriguez-Muela serves as a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Dresden, where she leads research on selective neuronal vulnerability in motor neuron diseases. Her work bridges molecular neuroscience and translational medicine through advanced cellular models.

Her research focuses on why specific neuronal subpopulations degenerate in neurodegenerative conditions while others remain resilient despite shared genetic backgrounds and stressors. Key methodologies include human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) systems, live imaging, genome editing, and single-cell genomics to investigate proteostasis failure mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

• Core discovery: Heterogeneous SMN protein levels determine motor neuron susceptibility
• Primary model systems: hiPSC-derived motor neurons and transgenic animal models
• Key questions: Molecular basis of neuronal resistance, shared protective pathways across cell types

Her lab operates at the intersection of basic neurobiology and therapeutic development, with emphasis on targeting disease-phase-specific mechanisms. Current efforts explore SMN heterogeneity drivers and comparative analysis of surviving neuron populations in ALS/SMA.