Short Bio
I'm a scientist and physician, interested in theoretical biology and in developing technologies to improve human health.
Previously, I have conducted research in molecular neurobiology, biophysics and synthetic biology and have held fellowships from the German Research Foundation and the Leo Eloesser Foundation.
I received my medical doctorate summa cum laude from the University of Heidelberg, Germany and studied medicine at the Universities of Heidelberg and Munich. Google Scholar
Adaptation and maladaptation in health, disease and aging
I have constructed the adaptation-maladaptation theory of aging (AM-theory) which states that certain biological mechanisms (e.g. adaptive transcription, metabolic plasticity) which the organism uses to deal with stressors, act as stressors themselves over time and cannot be effectively counteracted (the "adaptation-maladaptation dilemma").
Lissek 2024, Aging as a Consequence of the Adaptation–Maladaptation Dilemma, Adv Biol
Lissek 2024, Cancer memory as a mechanism to establish malignancy, BioSystems
Lissek 2024, The universal role of adaptive transcription in health and disease, FEBS J
Lissek 2023, Aging, adaptation and maladaptation, Front. Aging
Lissek 2022, Activity-dependent induction of younger biological phenotypes, Adv Biol
Human enhancement
I'm currently devising ways to enhance human physiological performance.
Lissek 2024, Enhancement of physiology via adaptive transcription, Pflugers Archiv
Lissek 2022, Methods to construct biological neural circuits, Preprint
Molecular algorithms in reward learning and addiction
For my doctoral work, I have decoded a new molecular algorithm centering on the transcription factor Npas4 that controls how strongly mice react to cocaine.
Lissek et al. 2021, Npas4 regulates medium spiny neuron physiology and gates cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, EMBO Rep. Press: MedicalXpress.
Neural substrates of conscioussness
As an undergraduate student, I have leveraged two-photon calcium imaging in living mice to dissect the neural underpinnings of conscioussness.
Lissek et al. 2016, General anesthetic conditions induce network synchrony and disrupt sensory processing in the cortex, Front. Cell. Neurosc. Press: MedicalXpress.
Neurogenomic computing
I proposed a new concept for biological computation termed neurogenomic computing. It leverages natural and synthetic interfaces between neuronal membranes and the genome.
Lissek 2017, Interfacing neural network components and nucleic acids, Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.