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Prof. Dr. Julia Sacher

Prof. Dr. Julia Sacher

Universitätsprofessorin

Haus 2
Liebigstraße 16
04103 Leipzig

Fax: +49 341 97 - 24989

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Abstract

Dr. Julia Sacher is a professor of Cognitive Neuroendocrinology with the Faculty of Medicine of the University Clinic of Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. She is also the director of the Leipzig Center of Female Health & Gender Medicine, and a faculty member of the Max Planck School of Cognition (https://cognition.maxplanckschools.org/en), the International Max Planck Research School of Cognitive Neuroimaging, and the Berlin School of Mind & Brain.

Dr. Sacher's discoveries include:

  • pioneering sex as a discovery variable in multimodal large neuroimaging data-banks, such as in the relationship between obesity, brain health and cognitive performance across the life-span (JAMA Netw Open 2019) & prioritizing diversity, sex, and gender in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for big multi-organ MR data-bases, such as the UK Biobank and the Human Connectome Project (Science 2023)
  • proof of concept for dense sampling of ovarian hormones and human brain architecture including first human evidence of hippocampal subfield dynamics using high-field 7T MRI (Front Neurosci 2015; Nature Mental Health 2023)
  • spotlighting neurochemical changes in humans during major hormonal transition phases, such as increases of MAO-A in early postpartum, perimenopause and postpartum depression (JAMA Psych 2010; Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015) & establishing in-vivo serotonin transporter dynamics in the development of biomarker-led treatment strategies for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Biol Psychiatry 2023)
  • establishing first evidence for linking between maternal mood postpartum and infant language development (JAMA Netw Open 2022), highlightening the critical need for early postpartum support and resilience promotion during family transition phases across the lifespan through the intersectional lens of sex hormones, inflammation, and stress (Psychopharmacology 2019)


  • BrainHatch
    Sacher, Julia
    Duration: 08/2022 – 12/2027
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie
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  • Genotyping of 5-HT transporter in design and pharmacokinetics of specific serotonergic/noradrenergic/dopaminergic reuptake inhibitors in neuroscience studies
    Regenthal, Ralf
    Duration: 01/2020 – ongoing
    Funded by: Haushaltsmittel (TG51, Overhead)
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Selbständige Abteilung für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie
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  • Der Einfluss von Geschlechts- und Stresshormonen auf empathische Prozesse – die weibliche psychische Gesundheit im Fokus
    Sacher, Julia
    Duration: 05/2024 – 05/2027
    Funded by: DFG Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
    Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie
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more projects

  • Sacher, J.; Witte, V.
    Genetic heart-brain connections: Multiorgan imaging unveils the intertwined nature of the human heart and brain
    Science. 2023. 380 (6648). pp. 897–898.
    DOI: 10.1126/science.adi2392
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  • Zsido, R.; Williams, A. N.; Barth, C.; Serio, B.; Kurth, E. L.; Mildner, T.; Trampel, R.; Beyer, F.; Witte, V.; Villringer, A.; Sacher, J.
    Ultra-high-field 7T MRI reveals changes in human medial temporal lobe volume in female adults during menstrual cycle
    Nature Mental Health. 2023. pp. 761–771.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00125-w
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  • Sacher, J.; Zsido, R. G.; Barth, C. et al.
    Increase in Serotonin Transporter Binding in Patients With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Case-Control Longitudinal Neuroreceptor Ligand Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study
    Biol Psychiatry. 2023. pp. 1081–1088.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.023
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  • Zsido, R. G.; Heinrich, M.; Slavich, G. M.; Beyer, F.; Masouleh, S. K.; Kratzsch, J.; Raschpichler, M.; Mueller, K.; Scharrer, U.; Löffler, M.; Schroeter, M.; Stumvoll, M.; Villringer, A.; Witte, V.; Sacher, J.
    Association of estradiol and visceral fat with structural brain networks and memory performance in adults
    JAMA Network Open. 2019. 2 (6).
    DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.6126
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  • Slavich, G. M.; Sacher, J.
    Stress, sex hormones, inflammation, and major depressive disorder: Extending Social Signal Transduction Theory of Depression to account for sex differences in mood disorders
    Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2019. pp. 3063–3079.
    DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05326-9
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more publications

  • Andere Ehrungen: Promotion to(Beförderung) Full Membership
    Sacher, Julia (Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie)
    awarded in 2024 by American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP).
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  • Andere Ehrungen: Appointment (Berufung) Faculty Member, Max Planck School of Cognition (MPSCog)
    Sacher, Julia (Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie)
    awarded in 2021 by Max Planck School of Cognition (MPSCog).
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  • Andere Ehrungen: Young Investigator Award
    Sacher, Julia (Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie)
    awarded in 2017 by National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression (NARSAD).
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  • Andere Ehrungen: Associate Member, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP)
    Sacher, Julia (Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie)
    awarded in 2017 by American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP).
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  • Andere Ehrungen: Max Planck Society’s “Sign Up!” Scientific Leadership program
    Sacher, Julia (Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie)
    awarded in 2016 by Max Planck Society .
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