Biography

CAREER PROFILE
Education
  • 2000-2005 TU Munich, Germany, Diploma in Biology, Major: Genetics, Minor: Neurobiology and Zoology
  • 2005-2009 University Ulm, Germany, PhD, international PhD program in molecular medicine

Employment
  • 2009-2011 Postdoctoral fellow, Stanford University, USA, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine
  • 2011-2016 Assistant Professor, University Ulm, Germany, Dept. of Neurology
  • 2011-2016 Executive Director of the Neurocenter of Ulm University
  • 2017- Lecturer in Cell Biology, University of Limerick, Ireland, Dept. of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences

Scientific Activities - My research focuses on synaptopathies as a key feature of neurodevelopmental diseases. Disruptions in synaptic structure leading to abnormal circuit formation and function are potentially the major determinant of such brain diseases. My work aims to understand how genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to neuronal dysfunction and to develop novel research and treatment strategies using nanotechnology.

Research Interests

My research is interested in the underlying components able to modify synaptic plasticity and transmission in the Central Nervous System (CNS) in health and disease. Thereby, synaptopathy defines key features of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. It implies that disruptions in synaptic structure and function are potentially the major determinant of such brain diseases. Using a combination of biochemical, cellular, molecular and behavioral approaches, we have investigated proteins of excitatory postsynapses focusing on their deregulation in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia. We are especially interested in the functional interaction of biometals and synaptic proteins in mechanisms such as synapse formation and maturation in health and disease. Given that dysregulation of trace metals is reported in many brain disorders, their role in the modification of synaptic function needs to be investigated in more detail. Especially since many brain disorders seem to not only have a genetic but also an environmental component triggering the disease. To investigate the role of biometals in disorders of the CNS, we use several approaches. For example, targeted manipulation of biometal levels in animal models and cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells is a major goal in our research. To that end, the development of novel drug carriers (i.e. Nanoparticles) and assays designed to evaluate their potency to influence synapse formation, maturation and plasticity has become an important part of our research. On the other hand, we investigate human patients with selected disorders and perform a state of the art assessment of their trace metal status and clinical phenotype to define subgroups with biometal abnormalities, which can be associated with specific clinical presentations. Understanding how environmental and genetic factors contribute to synaptic function will hopefully allow the development of research strategies to normalize function in individuals with synaptopathies.

Professional Activities

Association

  • 2012 Member, International Society for Zinc Biology
  • 2007 Member, Society for Neuroscience

Language

  • German
  • English

Peer Reviewed Journals

2023

Exclusive Human Milk Diet for Extremely Premature Infants: A Novel Fortification Strategy That Enhances the Bioactive Properties of Fresh, Frozen, and Pasteurized Milk Specimens

Philip R.K.;Romeih E.;Bailie E.;Daly M.;McGourty K.D.;Grabrucker A.M.;Dunne C.P.;Walker G. (2023) Exclusive Human Milk Diet for Extremely Premature Infants: A Novel Fortification Strategy That Enhances the Bioactive Properties of Fresh, Frozen, and Pasteurized Milk Specimens. Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine :279-290

2023

Consensus recommendations on organization of care for individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome

van Eeghen A.M.;Gaasterland C.M.W.;Haneveld M.J.K.;van Eeghen A.M.;Stemkens D.;Fernández-Fructuoso J.R.;Maruani A.;Hadzsiev K.;van Balkom I.D.C.;Alhambra N.;Anderlid B.M.;Andres S.;Aten E.;Guedes R.B.;Bonaglia M.C.;Bourgeron T.;Burdeus-Olavarrieta M.;Carbin M.J.;Kuiper E.;Cooke J.;Damstra R.J.;de Coo I.F.M.;Di Domenico S.;Evans D.G.;Fernández-Fructuoso J.R.;Grabrucker A.M.;Gunnarson C.;Hennekam R.C.;Jesse S.;Kant S.G.;Koza S.A.;van Ravenswaaij-Arts C.M.A.;Walinga M.;Landlust A.M.;van Ravenswaaij-Arts C.M.A.;Landlust A.M.;Lapunzina P.;Nevado J.;Lapunzina P.;Nevado J.;Lapunzina P.;Nevado J.;Loth E.;Mansour S.;Maruani A.;Mattina T.;Matulevičienė A.;Šiaurytė K.;Parker S.;Robert S.;Sala C.;Verpelli C.;San José Cáceres A.;Schön M.;Stemkens D.;Stiefsohn D.;Swillen A.;Tabet A.C.;Toro R.;Turner A.;van Balkom I.D.C.;van Buggenhout G.;van Eeghen A.M.;van Weering S.;Vignes S.;Vogels A.;Vyshka K.;Hugon A. (2023) Consensus recommendations on organization of care for individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome. European Journal Of Medical Genetics

2022

Zinc Supplementation in Health and Disease

Hans S.;Stanton J.E.;O’Connor E.M.;Grabrucker A.M. (2022) Zinc Supplementation in Health and Disease. Trace Metals: Sources, Applications And Environmental Implications :1-29

2020

Autism-associated SHANK3 mutations impair maturation of neuromuscular junctions and striated muscles.

Lutz AK;Pfaender S;Incearap B;Ioannidis V;Ottonelli I;Föhr KJ;Cammerer J;Zoller M;Higelin J;Giona F;Stetter M;Stoecker N;Alami NO;Schön M;Orth M;Liebau S;Barbi G;Grabrucker AM;Delorme R;Fauler M;Mayer B;Jesse S;Roselli F;Ludolph AC;Bourgeron T;Verpelli C;Demestre M;Boeckers TM; (2020) Autism-associated SHANK3 mutations impair maturation of neuromuscular junctions and striated muscles.. Science Translational Medicine

2020

Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Studies of an Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Responsive Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol-Thioketal- Melphalan Prodrug for Glioblastoma Treatment

Oddone N, Boury F, Garcion E, Grabrucker AM, Del Carmen Martinez M, Da F, Janaszewska A, Forni F, Vandelli MA, Tosi G, Ruozi B, Duskey JT (2020) Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Studies of an Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Responsive Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol-Thioketal- Melphalan Prodrug for Glioblastoma Treatment. Frontiers In Pharmacology

2017

Reduced plaque size and inflammation in the APP23 mouse model for Alzheimer's disease after chronic application of polymeric nanoparticles for CNS targeted zinc delivery.

Vilella, A; Belletti, D; Sauer, AK; Hagmeyer, S; Sarowar, T; Masoni, M; Stasiak, N; Mulvihill, JJE; Ruozi, B; Forni, F; Vandelli, MA; Tosi, G; Zoli, M; Grabrucker, AM (2017) Reduced plaque size and inflammation in the APP23 mouse model for Alzheimer's disease after chronic application of polymeric nanoparticles for CNS targeted zinc delivery.. Journal Of Trace Elements In Experimental Medicine

2017

De Novo Mutations in Protein Kinase Genes CAMK2A and CAMK2B Cause Intellectual Disability

Küry, S; van Woerden, GM; Besnard, T; Proietti Onori, M; Latypova, X; Towne, MC; Cho, MT; Prescott, TE; Ploeg, MA; Sanders, S; Stessman, HAF; Pujol, A; Distel, B; Robak, LA; Bernstein, JA; Denommé-Pichon, AS; Lesca, G; Sellars, EA; Berg, J; Carré, W; Busk, ØL; van Bon, BWM; Waugh, JL; Deardorff, M; Hoganson, GE; Bosanko, KB; Johnson, DS; Dabir, T; Holla, ØL; Sarkar, A; Tveten, K; de Bellescize, J; Braathen, GJ; Terhal, PA; Grange, DK; van Haeringen, A; Lam, C; Mirzaa, G; Burton, J; Bhoj, EJ; Douglas, J; Santani, AB; Nesbitt, AI; Helbig, KL; Andrews, MV; Begtrup, A; Tang, S; van Gassen, KLI; Juusola, J; Foss, K; Enns, GM; Moog, U; Hinderhofer, K; Paramasivam, N; Lincoln, S; Kusako, BH; Lindenbaum, P; Charpentier, E; Nowak, CB; Cherot, E; Simonet, T; Ruivenkamp, CAL; Hahn, S; Brownstein, CA; Xia, F; Schmitt, S; Deb, W; Bonneau, D; Nizon, M; Quinquis, D; Chelly, J; Rudolf, G; Sanlaville, D; Parent, P; Gilbert-Dussardier, B; Toutain, A; Sutton, VR; Thies, J; Peart-Vissers, LELM; Boisseau, P; Vincent, M; Grabrucker, AM; Dubourg, C; Tan, WH; Verbeek, NE; Granzow, M; Santen, GWE; Shendure, J; Isidor, B; Pasquier, L; Redon, R; Yang, Y; State, MW; Kleefstra, T; Cogné, B; Petrovski, S; Retterer, K; Eichler, EE; Rosenfeld, JA; Agrawal, PB; Bézieau, S; Odent, S; Elgersma, Y; Mercier, S (2017) De Novo Mutations in Protein Kinase Genes CAMK2A and CAMK2B Cause Intellectual Disability. American Journal Of Human Genetics :768-788

2012

Autistic-like behaviours and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2

Schmeisser, MJ; Ey, E; Wegener, S; Bockmann, J; Stempel, AV; Kuebler, A; Janssen, AL; Udvardi, PT; Shiban, E; Spilker, C; Balschun, D; Skryabin, BV; Dieck, St; Smalla, KH; Montag, D; Leblond, CS; Faure, P; Torquet, N; Le Sourd, AM; Toro, R; Grabrucker, AM; Shoichet, SA; Schmitz, D; Kreutz, MR; Bourgeron, T; Gundelfinger, ED; Boeckers, TM (2012) Autistic-like behaviours and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2. Nature :256-260

Books

Book Chapters

2024

Metabolic Approaches to the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Neluwa-Liyanage R. Indika, Susan C. Owens, Udara D. Senarathne, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Nelson S. K. Lam, Kerri Louati, Greer McGuinness, and Richard E. Frye (2024) Metabolic Approaches to the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Switzerland : Springer Nature Neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

2021

Localizing therapeutics to the brain

Hans S.;McNamara K.;Cunnane E.;Ross A.M.;Milane L.S.;Mulvihill J.J.E.;Grabrucker A.M. (2021) Localizing therapeutics to the brain. Organelle And Molecular Targeting :207-225

2020

Chapt 9: Metallic-based nanocarriers: Methods employed in nanoparticle characterization and assessing the interaction with the blood-brain barr

Ross, AM; Grabrucker, AM; McGourty, KD; Mulvihill, JE (2020) Chapt 9: Metallic-based nanocarriers: Methods employed in nanoparticle characterization and assessing the interaction with the blood-brain barr. Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States : Academic Press Advances and Avenues in the Development of Novel Carriers for Bioactives and Biological Agents 1st Edition.

2019

The Role of Trace Metals in Alzheimer's Disease

Chiara A. De Benedictis, Antonietta Vilella, Andreas M. Grabrucker (2019) The Role of Trace Metals in Alzheimer's Disease. Brisbane, Australia : Codon Publications Alzheimer's Disease :85-106

2017

Zinc and autism

Grabrucker, S; Grabrucker AM (2017) Zinc and autism. Netherlands : Elsevier Biometals in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutics

2017

Animal models of ASD – Extracerebral dysfunction

Hill-Yardin, EL; McKeown, SJ; Novarino, G; Grabrucker, AM (2017) Animal models of ASD – Extracerebral dysfunction. Germany : Springer Nature Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, Translational anatomy and cell biology of autism spectrum disorders

2016

Zinc Deficiency

Sauer, AK; Hagmeyer, S; Grabrucker, AM (2016) Zinc Deficiency. Croatia : InTech Nutritional Deficiency :23-46

2014

Ursachen

Grabrucker, AM; Schmeisser, MJ (2014) Ursachen. Germany : Kohlhammer Handlexikon Autismus-Spektrum: Schlüsselbegriffe aus Forschung, Theorie, Praxis und Betroffenen-Sicht :382-392

Edited Books

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