Michel Goedert

Prof. Michel Goedert is a distinguished neuroscientist known for his pioneering work on neurodegenerative diseases. He has been a Programme Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, since 1987. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, particularly through his discovery that the intracellular filaments in these diseases are composed of tau or alpha-synuclein proteins. His work also demonstrated that mutations in the tau gene (MAPT) cause inherited forms of frontotemporal dementia and that tau filaments propagate in a prion-like manner.

Prof. Goedert’s current research involves using electron cryo-microscopy to determine the structures of pathological amyloid filaments, revealing that each neurodegenerative disease is characterized by a specific filament fold.

He earned his MD from Basel University in Switzerland and pursued a PhD at Cambridge University in the UK. Following his PhD, he worked as a Postdoctoral Scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and, later, became the Head of the Neurobiology Division at the same institution.

Professor Goedert’s contributions to neuroscience have been widely recognised, earning him numerous prestigious awards and honours. His work continues to influence the field and inspire future research in neurodegenerative diseases.