Dr. Kaech obtained her Ph.D. in Cell Biology in 1991 at the University of Basel, Switzerland. After a short post-doctoral experience at NINDS-NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Matus at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, Switzerland, where she specialized in visualization of dynamic processes in living cells using GFP, a technology just emerging at that time. Dr. Kaech’s appointment at CROET includes a part-time position as Manager of the Live Cell Imaging Facility as well as a commitment to basic research as a member of the Banker Lab.

The functional brain requires the formation and maintenance of orderly synaptic connections among neurons. While this process was formerly considered to be restricted to the developmental period, it now seems likely that functions such as cognition and memory demand continuous neuronal remodeling throughout life. The development of axons and dendrites appears to be under genetic regulation, but the program also is tightly regulated by external stimuli. My studies seek to identify candidate genes that regulate dendrite formation and define the role of extracellular proteins that promote establishment and maintenance of the dendritic arbor. Understanding these phenomena may lead to the identification of new methods to promote functional remodeling of mature neurons after injury to the brain or spinal cord.

Selected Publications

Soderling SH, Guire ES, Kaech S, White J, Zhang F, Schutz K, Langeberg LK, Banker G, Raber J, Scott, (2007) A WAVE-1 and WRP signaling complex regulates spine density, synaptic plasticity, and memory. J Neurosci. Jan 10;27(2):355-65. Abstract

Wayman GA, Kaech S, Grant WF, Davare M, Impey S, Tokumitsu H, Nozaki N, Banker G, Soderling TR. (2004) Regulation of axonal extension and growth cone motility by calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I. J Neurosci. Apr 14;24(15):3786-94. Abstract

Sampo B, Kaech S, Kunz S, Banker G. (2004Regulation of axonal extension and growth cone motility by calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I. J Neurosci. Apr 14;24(15):3786-94. Abstract

Silverman M. A., Kaech S., Jareb M., Burack M. A., Vogt L., Sonderegger P., and Banker G. (2001) Sorting and directed transport of membrane proteins during development of hippocampal neurons in culture. Proc Natl Acad Sci 98, 7051-7057. Abstract

Kaech S, Parmar H., Roelandse M., Bargmann C., Matus A. (2001) Cytoskeletal microdifferentiation: A mechanism for organizing morphological plasticity in dendrites. Proc Natl Acad Sci 98, 7086-7092. Abstract

Fischer M., Kaech S., Wagner U., Brinkhaus H., Matus A. (2000) Glutamate receptors regulate actin-based plasticity in dendritic spines. Nat Neurosci 3, 887-94. Abstract