Short Report by Silke Zimmermann: Science, Southern Charm, and Synapses – My Nashville Research Adventure (January-February)
This February, my soon-to-be husband and I had the amazing chance to dive into new research adventures in none other than Nashville, Tennessee—all thanks to the incredible support of the Max Kade Foundation!
Nashville isn’t just the “Music City” in name—it truly lives and breathes music, country vibes, and good old southern charm. But beyond the honky-tonks and cowboy boots, Nashville is also a serious hub for cutting-edge biomedical research, especially at Vanderbilt University and the world-renowned Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). It was the perfect mix of science and soul!
My research dives into the fascinating link between chronic illnesses, like chronic kidney disease (CKD), and their effects on the brain. Recently, I discovered that in CKD, microglia cells get fired up—and that activation can mess with neurons and lead to behavioral shifts (at least in our mouse model).
As both a doctor and a scientist, I’m always on the hunt for exciting, advanced ways to explore and prove neuronal dysfunction. That’s what made my time in the lab of Prof. Dr. Fiona E. Harrison at Vanderbilt so invaluable. Dr. Harrison is not only a brilliant behavioral neuroscientist, but also a passionate professor whose work focuses on how nutrition (think: vitamin C deficiency and high-fat diets) influences Alzheimer’s disease through brain changes. She’s also developed powerful models for studying microglia, which is exactly what I needed.
Thanks to Fiona, I also connected with Prof. William Nobis, who introduced me to thrilling techniques like long-term potentiation and patch-clamp recordings—methods I’m now eager to bring back and apply in Germany.
And the best part? This partnership isn’t just a one-time thing. My fantastic PhD student Malith from Sri Lanka will join Fiona’s lab this November for three months to study microglia in a mouse model of vascular dysfunction during sepsis. And yes, I’ll be back, too—can’t wait to reunite with Fiona and Malith and continue our scientific journey!
Of course, it wasn’t all lab coats and microscopes—we made sure to soak up the Nashville lifestyle too! Evenings on Broadway were a total blast, filled with karaoke, neon lights, and yes… mechanical bull riding (hold on tight!). We became obsessed with hot wings and even worked our way up to the spiciest levels—no regrets, just happy tears!
And as a cherry on top, we took a whirlwind weekend trip to Las Vegas, fully immersing ourselves in the wild and wonderful American way of life. A huge thank you to the Max Kade Foundation for making all of this possible—it was an unforgettable, career-changing, and soul-fueling experience! 🎉🇺🇸🧠
