Temperature Detection and Thermoregulation
2025
In mid-April, Jan participated in an exciting meeting on ‚Neurobiology in Changing Environments‘ jointly organized by the Kavli Foundation and the Allen Institute in Seattle. Despite the challenging situation for academic research in the USA, the scientists were undeterred in their efforts to explore the diverse neural changes and adaptations associated with altered environmental parameters – such as increasing global temperatures – and how those neuronal changes modulate physiology.
Our PhD student Jialin had a highly productive trip to Shenzhen, China, in January 2025. She teamed up with Prof. Wang Hong at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and Prof. Song Kun at the Southern University of Science and Technology – both former members of our lab. It was a meaningful reunion and an amazing collaboration. Jialin worked on slicing, RNAscope, and imaging, contributing to the ongoing research. Beyond science, they bonded over delicious local food and inspiring chats, making the trip both scientifically productive and personally enriching.
2024
Did you know that painting can reduce stress, improve focus, boost mood, and enhance emotional well-being, as shown by researchers from Drexel University? Inspired by these findings, we decided to put it to the test 🧪 by attending a pottery painting workshop 🎨. The cozy atmosphere, complete with mulled wine, homemade cookies, and Christmas music, sparked our creativity and added to the festive spirit. The experience left us refreshed, energized, and more excited than ever for the scientific discoveries awaiting us in the New Year!
We are thrilled to share that our research paper on heat acclimation, which identifies a neuronal mechanism that drives heat tolerance in mice, has been published in Nature Neuroscience ! We discovered a slowly evolving plasticity mechanism in a specific subset of hypothalamic preoptic neurons. This mechanism, triggered by long-term heat exposure, facilitates thermal acclimation and enhances heat tolerance in mice. This was a fantastic team effort and collaboration with Claudio Acuna and members of his lab! 👏🎉 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01830-0
Check out the research briefing below 👇
Recently, Jan had the opportunity to attend the “Cellular Sensors” workshop, a remarkable event organized by Felix Viana and Emily Liman in Baeza, Spain. This workshop brought together leading scientists from around the world to explore how we sense the environment – a question fundamental to biology and crucial for understanding human physiology, as well as disease transmission by insects like those spreading malaria and dengue. With topics ranging from the structures of sensory ion channels and receptors to the role of sensory receptors in health and disease, the workshop provided a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the field.
In the beginning of October, Jan and two of our PhD students, Jessica and Jialin, participated in the annual Young Scientists Meeting and CRC/TRR 152 scientific retreat. This event provided a platform for exchanging research ideas and fostering collaboration within groups involved in this consortium. Highlights included the workshop „Mental Health for Scientists“, various talks, poster sessions, and in-depth discussions of the ongoing CRC projects throughout the session.
In early September, our lab team took a well-deserved break and enjoyed a fantastic canoeing trip down the Neckar, paddling from Neckargemünd to Heidelberg under sunny skies. 🚣♀️🛶🌊 Armed with water guns, we bravely defended our canoes from „Neckar pirates“ (= each other 😜) and turned the river into a battleground of fun! By the end of the trip, we were all soaked but bursting with joy, and wrapped up the day with a relaxing potluck and BBQ, sharing delicious food and great memories.
Jan very much enjoyed his visit to the US West Coast – clockwise starting from bottom left: Enjoying games and little perks with Domenico Tupone and Kazuhiro Nakamura at the American Physiology Summit (APS) in Long Beach. Dinner with all the speakers of our APS symposium on the “central control of thermoregulation”, including also Stephanie Correa and several aspiring early-career scientists. Visiting Zachary Knight’s lab at UCSF and going out in San Francisco together with Diana Bautista and Jennifer Garrison. Visiting Jan’s Postdoc Mentor David Julius and the “good soul” of his lab, Jeannie Poblete, at UCSF.
We are delighted to share the exciting news that our research paper exploring the metabolic interaction between spinal neurons and astrocytes in the context of inflammatory pain has been published in Nature Metabolism ! Our study sheds light on a previously unappreciated mechanism of astrocyte–neuron metabolic communication through glycogen breakdown in the spinal cord that fuels spinal neuron hyperexcitability. Sebastián Marty Lombardi was the main driving force behind this achievement, and most credit goes to him! 👏🌟 https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-024-01001-2
2023
The Heidelberg Christmas market is a real magnet for visitors – and rightly so! All over the old town, the air is filled with the enticing aroma of gingerbread, while rows of mulled wine stands beckon passersby. Among the market’s highlights is the remarkable „Heidelberg Barrel,“ a colossal wooden structure standing 11 meters tall and weighing 22 tonnes, dominating the market square. Our team recently had a wonderful time embracing the holiday spirit inside the barrel, enjoying the unique Christmas vibes and participating in a fun game of Secret Santa.
It’s hard to say goodbye, but looking at the bright side – new adventures are always awaiting around the corner 😉. At the farewell party for our skillful lab assistant Dasha and our talented researcher Seba, lots of laughs, memories, and a few tears were shared as we celebrated their time with us. While they embark on new journeys, their supportive attitude, uplifting spirit, and passion for science will be deeply missed, yet their contributions to our research field are highly acknowledged. Sending warm wishes for success to Dasha and Seba!
In July, our team came together to organize a farewell party for our beloved administrative assistant, Ulrike, who has dedicated a remarkable 10 years to the institute. And guess what? It was her birthday too! Amidst cheers and birthday songs, our colleagues shared heartwarming memories and expressed their gratitude for Ulrike’s hard work, dedication, and always-positive energy that she has brought into the lab over the years. We wish all the best to Ulrike in her future endeavors, and she’ll always hold a special place in our lab family’s heart ❤️.
Sun, food and music 🎶 What else do you need? Right! Every year, the Heidelberg University Hospital hosts an incredible summer festival for its staff. And we were there, as always, to enjoy the sunshine, delicious food, refreshing drinks, some live music and overall a fabulous atmosphere. Too bad the night ends at midnight. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Sommerfest 😃.
There’s a baby on the way 🎉👶💕! Our lovely lab technician Amandine is expecting and we found the best way to celebrate it. We put together a surprise buffet for our dear colleague’s baby shower. With the sun shining and the weather sizzling outside, the temperature inside the room was truly heartwarming. After the initial congratulations, we all sat down together to enjoy the afternoon with delicious fingerfood and funny baby-related games. A big shoutout to the incredible team for coming up with an unforgettable celebration👏.
2022
With snow falling and wintry temperatures, we hopped on a train to Strasbourg’s legendary Christmas market. Stepping off the train, we were greeted by a pristine snow blanket, setting the stage for an enchanting adventure. The Strasbourg Christmas market is the oldest in France (first mentioned in 1570). There are now 300 market stalls at 12 different locations. Everything the Christmas heart desires can be found here! Drawing crowds from all corners of the globe, this world-famous market turned the city into a magical Christmas haven for a whole month.
On September 29th and 30th, Siemens Lab participated in a retreat on Energy Metabolism and Body Temperature Control in Health and Disease, collaborating with AG Fenselau (MPI Köln). During the event, both teams engaged in extensive scientific discussions over the course of two days.
We are delighted to welcome Dasha, a talented bachelor student of biology from Kiev, to our lab. Despite the distance, we’re committed to supporting Dasha’s educational journey by facilitating her studies online, allowing her to pursue her academic goals while contributing to our research endeavors.
2021
In October, our lab visited Europa-Park, a thrilling theme park in the south of Germany. We enjoyed an action-packed day riding roller coasters like „Silver Star“ and exploring themed areas like „The Minimoys Kingdom.“ It was a fantastic opportunity for team bonding and creating lasting memories together. Can’t wait for our next adventure! 🎢🌟
2020
Who said science is boring? 🤔 Certainly not us! 😄 Amidst the pandemic, our lab decided to inject some hilarity into our research routine by having a photo session with a giant box. Who knew a simple box could bring so much laughter and fun? Here’s to breaking stereotypes and finding joy in the little things, even if it means squeezing into a box during a pandemic. 📦😂
2019
Standing in solidarity with the global movement for climate action, we participated in Fridays for Future in Heidelberg. 🌍🌳 With our motto „And yet it moves, and yet it’s warming up,“ we emphasized the dynamic nature of our planet’s climate and the pressing need for action. Together, we believe in the power of collective effort to drive positive environmental outcomes and create a better world for generations to come. #FridaysForFuture #ClimateAction #Heidelberg
