Steffen Tiedt, Principal Investigator

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Vanessa Granja Burbano, PhD student

Originally from Ecuador, I obtained my BSc degree in Biology at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru and worked as a research assistant at the Department of Neurobiology, Genetics and Biochemistry. In 2016, I moved to Germany to pursue a MSc degree in Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Regensburg. My master thesis was focused on the analysis of mitochondrial dysfunction in induced neurons obtained from patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Obtaining a DAAD scholarship from the iPUR program, I was able to work at the University of Regensburg as guest researcher with Dr. Oliver Bosch. My main research interests include neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and age-related diseases. I have joined the Tiedt Lab at the ISD in 2020 as a PhD student at the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN). Primary focus of my work is to investigate the impact of the circadian rhythm on stroke. Outside the lab, I enjoy dancing salsa, reading tons of books and hiking.

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Michael Karg, MD student

Born and raised in Munich I am, as we say, a “Münchner Kindl”. After I passed my A-levels in 2016, I started my medical studies at the LMU in Munich in the following semester (16/17). Since 2018 I am glad to call Dr. Konstantinos Dimitriadis (senior physician in neurology at LMU) my mentor. I am very thankful for the mentorship, which allowed me to gain a deeper understanding in the field of neurology and the scientific research which is done at the ISD. In October 2018, I started my own research under the leadership of Dr. Steffen Tiedt. My subject is the the prevalence of systemic complications and prediction of thrombectomy success, interventional complications, and functional outcome after thrombectomy. Besides from my passion for medicine and its research, I am a big fan of intercultural exchanges in Europe and the whole world, which is why I speak four languages and of course I support the world’s best soccer club FC Bayern München.

Linjie Zhang, PhD Student

Originally coming from Henan province of China, I started my medical studies in 2012. And in 2021, I finished my master’s degree with the thesis ’Dynamic changes of inflammatory CD4+T cytokines in patients with acute ischemic stroke’. I have already worked in neurology department as a resident doctor for one year, and with the understanding of ischemic stroke, I found I have a great passion for biomarkers of ischemic stroke. I am so lucky to be one of the members at Tiedt Lab to further explore the mechanism of biomarkers of ischemic stroke. Outside the lab, I like hiking and yoga most. But recently I am trying to learn to dance Jazz.

Naomi Vlegels, Postdoctoral fellow

With a fascination for the (dys)functioning of the brain, I obtained my Master’s degree in Neuroscience and Cognition at Utrecht University. Following my graduation in 2017 I pursued my PhD under supervision of Prof. Dr. Geert Jan Biessels at the University Medical Center Utrecht. My PhD focused on the microstructural integrity of the white matter in Alzheimer’s disease and small vessel disease with the goal to better understand brain injury and cognitive decline in these conditions. During my PhD I got interested by systemic effects of brain injury and I am therefore happy to have joined the Tiedt lab in September 2022 as a Postdoc. Here I will study metabolomic changes after stroke. Outside of work I enjoy taking long walks on the beach, reading books and to meet family and friends. ​

Dr. Aldo I. Martinez-Banderas - Biomarker Hub Coordinator

I studied Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where I explored the nongenomic role of testosterone in asthma for my bachelor thesis (2013). I then pursued postgraduate studies at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, earning an MSc in Bioscience (2016) and a PhD in Bioengineering (2020). My research focused on magnetic nanowires for biomedical applications, including a multi-modal cancer therapy platform and an MRI-based tracking system for cell therapy. Most recently, I led a project at Roche Diagnostics GmbH to identify high-performance biosensors for biomarker detection developed in academia and industry for potential partnership. In 2025, I joined the Tiedt lab as Biomarker-Hub Coordinator, where I apply my interdisciplinary background to optimize biomarker workflows and support biobank users and researchers.

Yasin Eshraghi, PhD Student

Originally from Iran, I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in biotechnology and medical biotechnology, respectively. While pursuing my master's degree, I became increasingly absorbed in the field of systems biology as well as the analysis of big data, which led me to implement proteomics data analysis in my master's thesis on kidney illness. I joined the Tiedt lab in September 2022 to follow up on my Ph.D. In this journey, I will focus on deciphering the underlying mechanisms of thrombus propagation via Proteome profiling with a holistic insight. Traveling, listening to music, and playing sports are some of the things I enjoy outside of the lab.

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Lisa-Maria Arndt, MD Student

Gilamo Fabian Atari Kazemi, MD Student

Lars Becker, MD Student

Orsalia-Zoi Veloudiou, PhD Student

During my studies at the School of Medicine in Athens, Greece I developed a connection to patient brain pathology and interdisciplinary collaboration. In 2021, I completed a practical-year exchange at the LMU Klinikum and after my graduation in Greece, I moved back to Munich to chart a path that bridges clinical neurology with biomedical neuroscience. Inspired by the concept of circadian rhythm dysregulation, I joined the Tiedt lab in March 2023 to conduct an MD thesis on the role of the core circadian clock genes in the progression of ischemic stroke both at a clinical and experimental level. After completing my thesis, my Ph.D. research now focuses on sleep and circadian rhythm disruption in stroke patients. Except for the lab work, I’m also excited to discover the hidden gems in Munich.

Nicoló Luca Knuth, MD Student

Originally from Darmstadt, I moved to Munich in 2020 to study medicine at Ludwig-Maximilians-University. After my first state exam in 2022, I continued my medical studies at Technical University of Munich and fortunately came across Tiedt Lab while looking for an experimental MD program. In my project I am examining molecular biomarkers for cerebral injury due to stroke in collaboration with Kaj Blennow's group at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. In my free time I play field hockey professionally and depending on the season I like to go surfing or skiing.

Benedict Bansbach, MD Student

Originally from Stuttgart, I started my medical studies at the LMU in 2019. I developed a strong interest in the complexity of the brain and its pathologies during the first years of my studies. In 2023 I joined the Tiedt group as an MD student to be part of clinical stroke research and to get insight in the field of neuroscience. My research focuses on the effects of circadian rhythm and chronotypes on stroke presentation and outcome. In my free time I enjoy playing tennis, chess and spending time with my bookclub. 

Dilara Moumin, MD Student

Originally I’m from Bonn, and I moved to Munich after my graduation in general medicine at the University of medicine “George Emil Palade“ in Târgu Mureș, Romania. During my studies in med school I had the possibility to make experiences in research by writing my graduation thesis about biomarkers in stroke. Since university I have an ordinary interest for neurology and the science behind it. What makes human brains interesting to me was the fact, that we already know a lot about the human organism, but compared to that, almost nothing about the CNS. That’s why my goal is not only to contribute in healthcare by working in the clinic as physician, but also to use the possibility of my profession to make a lasting impression and impact in neuroscience. In January 2024 I joined the Tiedt Lab and started working on our studies about biomarkers in stroke. Outside the lab, I enjoy to travel to see and learn more about other cultures, their cuisines and history.

Konstantin Steiner, MD Student

During my studies and while working as a physiotherapist, I was fascinated by the complexity and multi-layered nature of neurological diseases. I am currently in the 4th year of my medical studies at the LMU. I am happy to be part of the Tiedt lab as an MD student and very excited to get a deeper insight into the field of neurological research. My work in the research group will focus on analysing and monitoring the dynamics of molecular biomarkers in stroke patients. In my spare time I play fieldhockey and ride my road bike, I also enjoy music and photography.

Apolline Vix, MD Student 

Born and raised in Munich with German-French roots, I began my medical studies in 2019. My fascination with neurology grew throughout my studies in Munich, where I became inspired by the complexity of the brain and the potential for research to improve patient outcomes. I completed an Erasmus exchange in Budapest, which not only deepened my understanding of healthcare but was also an unforgettable experience meeting people from various backgrounds and immersing myself in new cultures. I am thrilled to be part of the Tiedt Lab team, where I can explore the molecular mechanisms of stroke and contribute to advancements in neurological research. In my free time, I enjoy traveling around the world and reading.

Yihan Zhang, Postdoctoral fellow

Originally coming from Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China, I started my medical studies in 2007, and I got both my MD degree and PhD degree in anesthesiology in Sun Yat-sen University. I am currently an attending anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. With the great interest in neurology and biomarker studies. I joined in Tiedt Lab as a visiting scholar in 2024. My work here mainly focuses on mining stroke-specific biomarkers from a multi-omics perspective to explore biomolecular mechanisms related to brain injury and recovery, which in turn would help me further investigate means of perioperative cerebral protection in surgical patients. In my spare time, I like to study foreign languages and travel throughout the world to admire architecture and scenery in different countries.

Ali Rezaei, Postdoctoral fellow

Driven to learn more about brains, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Brown University. Following my graduation in 2017, I worked as a technician for a year at Mass General Hospital, where I conducted research on cytoplasmic dsRNA mechanism of neurodegeneration. Afterwards, I enrolled in the fast-track PhD program of GSN at LMU and after the fast-track year, I started my doctoral work under supervision of Prof. Dr. Edbauer at DZNE Munich. My PhD’s focus was on the discovery of disease-associated oligodendrocytes in an ALS model and a potential therapeutic agent for them. During my PhD I got very drawn to various bioinformatics analyses and I am happy to have joined the Tiedt lab in October 2024 as a Postdoc. Outside of work, I enjoy coding for fun, hiking, video games, movies, and DIY projects with my raspberry pie. 

Arpita Kannihalli, PhD student

I'm originally from India, and in 2021 I earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Biotechnology from Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belagavi, Karnataka. I also completed my Bachelor's thesis at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CIMAP) in Bangalore. I moved to Hyderabad to complete my post graduate degree (Master of Technology) in Medical Biotechnology in 2023 at the Indian Institute of Technology. I conducted in-silico and metabolite level analysis in my master thesis to show how circadian timing affects the effectiveness and side effects of cardiovascular treatments. In 2024, I began my PhD studies at the Tiedt Lab at ISD with DAAD Doctoral scholarship. My project aims to investigate the translational failure of brain stroke research and to identify the potential circadian targets for stroke treatment. Outside the lab, I enjoy dancing, travelling and hiking.

Wei Cao, Postdoctoral fellow

With a strong interest in bioinformatics and computational biology, I began my research journey during my undergraduate studies and have since specialized in these fields. My PhD at Tsinghua University focused on developing advanced computational algorithms for protein structure prediction, providing me with valuable experience in molecular modeling and sparking my interest in multi-omics data analysis for real-world biomedical challenges. I am excited to join the Tiedt lab in October 2024 as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where I will conduct in-depth research in multi-omics analysis in stroke. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling with friends, and my favorite sport is swimming.

Pike-See Cheah, Visiting scholar

Originally from Malaysia, I hold a PhD in Anatomy and have pursued specialized neuroscience research at renowned institutions such as the University of Adelaide (Australia, 2008–2011) and Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital (USA, 2016–2020). My research has focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, rare diseases, and brain tumors, utilizing cutting-edge techniques like genome editing and AAV-mediated gene therapy. Upon returning to Malaysia, I lead the Neurobiology and Genetics Group at https://neurosains.org/, advancing both fundamental and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases. I currently serve as the Head of the Anatomy Unit, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM, where I am actively involved in teaching programs in medicine and health sciences. In 2024, I received a DAAD Research Stay Scholarship, which will allow me to expand my expertise in experimental stroke models, transgenic animal models, and advanced imaging technologies. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through fitness programs like Zumba Strong, Shadow Boxing, Pilates, Power Tone, and Fithop.

Leducq Foundation

Precision Medicine in Stroke (PREMISE): integrating deep phenotyping from 1000 stroke patientes and experimental stroke models

Excellence program for research and funding (FöFoLe, LMU)

LMUexcellent

German Research Foundation (DFG)

Medical & Clinician Scientist Program (MCSP)

European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD)

SyNergy Cluster