Project Leader Markus Otto is responsible for the German consultant laboratory for laboratory diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Within this lab nearly 2000 samples of patients under the differential diagnosis of CJD were analysed for tau-protein, 14-3-3 proteins, S-100B protein, Abeta-peptide fragments (Urea-gel). The neurochemical differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease represents one focus of his interdisciplinary group. Using also proteomic approaches (IPG-2D-PAGE, SELDI) his group attempts to detect potential markers in cerebrospinal fluid. These markers are characterised (in cooperation with the Max-Planck-Institute for experimental Medicine in Goettingen) and further investigated with regard to their differentialdiagnostic and pathophysiological relevance. M. Otto is also responsible for the German CJD therapy-trial in Germany. Within this trial blood samples are taken at regular intervals.
M. Otto currently holds a professorship for interdisciplinary dementia research at the University of Goettingen (W2-Professor), since January 2006 he chaired the out-patient clinic at the Department of Neurology at the University of Ulm (W3-Professorship - chair). In this out-patient Department last year 950 patients under the differential diagnosis of a dementia were seen. Additionally 550 patients with Parkinson-syndrome were seen. From nearly all patients clinical data, CSF and blood samples were stored in a standardized manner. Further samples are obtained by a cooperation with a clinic which is specialized for he diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson´s Syndroms (Elena-Klinik, Kassel, Prof. Claudia Trenkwalder). Within this project we obtain weekly 30 blood and CSF samples of well characterized patients. For the analysis and storage of these samples an ethical approval already exists. Since 2002 he was a board member and since 2005 he is in the executive board of the German Society for CSF diagnositic and neurochemistry. In Ulm there is a strong cooperation to the European Huntington-Network (Euro-HD, Prof. Landwehrmeyer) and NIPPS-study (natural progression of Parkinson-Syndroms, Prof. Ludolph)
Specific skills: Biacore binding studies, clincal proteomics (IPG-2D-PAGE, DIGE), APP-processing, monoclonal antibodies, primary cell culture (mice, chicken), Neurochemical diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease, Sample bank of CSF and serum (Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, MCI, DLB, Prion diseases, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
Together with Erlangen university of Ulm is responsible for the clinical diagnosis of the patients and the steady support of well characterized samples in blood and CSF. Within the project the characterization and collection will continue according to the scientific needs. All CSF samples in his lab will be evaluated using currently available techniques for Abeta-Peptide detection (Urea-gel and ELISA).