Dr. Anders Björklund is a preeminent neuroscientist whose pioneering work has transformed approaches to brain repair and neural regeneration. He currently serves as Professor at the Wallenberg Neuroscience Center at Lund University in Sweden, where he has established one of the world's most influential research programs in restorative neuroscience. Born in Söderhamn in 1945, Björklund completed his medical and doctoral training before embarking on a career that would redefine treatment possibilities for neurodegenerative disorders. His early recognition of the potential for neural transplantation positioned him at the forefront of a revolutionary approach to neurological treatment. For over five decades, his research has maintained the highest standards of scientific excellence while consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible in neural repair.
Dr. Björklund's groundbreaking research in the 1970s pioneered the development of neural transplantation techniques for the brain, creating the first successful methods for cell replacement in animal models of Parkinson's disease. His laboratory at Lund University developed the surgical approaches and cell preparation protocols that enabled the first clinical trials of neural transplantation for Parkinson's disease patients, establishing the foundation for modern restorative therapies. The Lund neural transplantation program became one of the world's leading clinical research initiatives for developing cellular therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, with Björklund's work demonstrating the remarkable potential of cell replacement for restoring brain function. Over subsequent decades, his research expanded to include viral vector-mediated gene transfer, stem cell technologies, and neurotrophic factor delivery, significantly advancing our ability to model, protect, and repair the nervous system in Parkinson's disease and related conditions.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Björklund has profoundly shaped the field of regenerative neuroscience through his leadership and mentorship, training generations of scientists who have established leading research programs globally. His election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2011 and receipt of prestigious awards such as the Zulch Prize recognize his extraordinary impact on neuroscience and medicine. As a leading member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, he continues to influence scientific policy and research priorities in the neurosciences. Currently, his laboratory focuses on developing transplantable dopamine neurons from stem cells and refining viral vector-mediated gene transfer techniques to create new therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Björklund's vision continues to guide the field toward transformative treatments that restore function in damaged neural circuits, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential neuroscientists of his generation.
