Thomas Misgeld

Prof. Dr. Thomas Misgeld serves as Head of a Cooperation Unit at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Munich and leads a joint research group with the Technical University of Munich (TUM). His laboratory investigates cell biological mechanisms underlying axon degeneration—a critical early event in neurodegenerative diseases affecting an estimated 50% of the population over a lifetime. The research integrates in vivo imaging, genetic labeling, and molecular interventions to develop predictive models for therapeutic development.

Misgeld's work centers on visualizing subcellular dynamics during axon degeneration using two-photon microscopy and correlative ultrastructural analysis. Key research areas include axonal transport, mitochondrial dynamics, cytoskeletal remodeling, and subcellular signaling pathways in neuroinflammatory contexts. His lab employs mouse and zebrafish models to study neuron-glia-immune cell interactions across developmental, traumatic, and inflammatory disease settings including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and spinal cord injury.

Analysis of recent publications reveals a dominant focus on developing advanced imaging methodologies for axon degeneration research. Key trends include correlative light-electron microscopy techniques, in vivo assays for axonal transport dynamics, and mechanistic studies of neuroinflammatory disease models. The work consistently bridges fundamental cell biology with translational applications, targeting pathways currently under clinical investigation for neurodegenerative therapies.

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Misgeld's laboratory operates as a core component of the DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence 'Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology' (SyNergy), managing an electron microscopy hub specializing in correlative light-electron microscopy with volume reconstruction and modern fixation techniques. This facility enables high-resolution analysis of subcellular structures during neurodegeneration and supports collaborative research across multiple institutions.