I am a medical neuroscientist by training (PhD from the Charité Medical Neurosciences Program, supervision: Prof. Ulrich Dirnagl) and I have dedicated my career to studying the etiology and pathophysiology of neurodegeneration, as well as to developing effective therapeutic approaches for the functional recovery of the injured brain. I enjoy the reputation of an internationally visible expert in cell death signaling having characterized the signaling pathways leading to neuronal demise after stroke. A detailed molecular understanding of how different brain cells enable brain function and participate in degenerative and regenerative processes after injury as well as which life-spanning neuronal and extraneuronal changes lead to neurodegeneration at later stages in life is essential for the design of successful treatment strategies.