Dr. Adriano Aguzzi is a distinguished Swiss-Italian physician and scientist renowned for his pioneering contributions to the field of neurodegenerative diseases. Born on December 1, 1960, in Pavia, Italy, he currently serves as Full Professor of Neuropathology and Director of the Institute of Neuropathology at the University of Zurich, positions he has held since 1997. He also directs the National Reference Center for Prion Diseases, a role he assumed in 1995, and previously served as Co-Head of the Department of Pathology at University Hospital Zurich from 2004 to 2017. After completing his medical training and doctoral studies at Freiburg, Dr. Aguzzi established himself as a leading authority in neuropathology through innovative research methodologies and significant scientific contributions.
Dr. Aguzzi's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of prion diseases including bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, with his work cited over 79,000 times according to Google Scholar. His laboratory pioneered the development of transgenic and knockout mouse models that have become essential tools for studying neurodegenerative processes and prion pathogenesis. Among his most significant discoveries, Dr. Aguzzi demonstrated that a specific endogenous protein plays a crucial role in prion disease development, as neurons only die when this protein is present. He also revealed the pathway by which prions spread through the intestinal tract and lymphatic system before invading the brain, fundamentally changing our understanding of disease transmission mechanisms and contributing significantly to research on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Recognized as one of Europe's foremost authorities on prion diseases, Dr. Aguzzi has developed multiple patents for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to these challenging neurological conditions. His exceptional contributions have earned him prestigious appointments as a member of EMBO, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences. As President of the Swiss Society of Neuropathology from 1998 to 2002 and through his service on the UK's Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, he has shaped research directions and policy in his field. Dr. Aguzzi continues to lead innovative research using organotypic brain slice cultures and high-throughput screening methods to uncover new mechanisms of neurodegeneration, with his laboratory remaining at the forefront of efforts to develop effective interventions for devastating brain disorders.
