Professor Monique Breteler is a world-renowned leader in population health sciences and neurodegenerative disease research with dual doctoral qualifications. She currently serves as Director of Population Health Sciences at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn and holds a professorship at the University of Bonn since 2011. With an academic career spanning over two decades, she previously held significant research positions from 2003 to 2011 and maintained an adjunct professorship in Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from 2002 to 2021. Her strategic leadership in establishing major population-based studies has positioned her at the forefront of understanding neurological disorders through comprehensive epidemiological approaches.
Professor Breteler's pioneering research focuses on unraveling the complex interplay between vascular mechanisms, metabolic disorders, inflammation and lifestyle factors in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. As principal investigator of the landmark Rheinland Study, she has pioneered innovative approaches to integrate multimolecular data for developing comprehensive metrics of biological aging that transcend chronological age. Her groundbreaking work has established critical connections between biological aging processes and neurodegenerative changes across the human lifespan, providing new insights into early detection and prevention strategies. This research has significant implications for developing targeted interventions to mitigate cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions in aging populations.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions, Professor Breteler was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2019 and ranked globally as the 43rd leading female scientist and second in Germany by Research.com in 2022. She has cultivated a dynamic research environment that mentors the next generation of scientists, with her team pursuing cutting-edge investigations into the molecular underpinnings of brain aging and neurodegeneration. Her current research trajectory focuses on developing multi-molecular metrics of biological aging to precisely quantify relationships with neurodegenerative processes across the lifespan. Through her visionary leadership in population neuroscience, Professor Breteler continues to shape global research agendas aimed at preserving cognitive health and preventing neurodegenerative disorders in our aging societies.
