
Overview
Background
Professor Jürgen Götz (PhD, Dr. habil, FAHMS, GAICD) is Foundation Chair of Dementia Research, Director of the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research at the Queensland Brain Institute (University of Queensland), NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Ultrasound Team Leader. In 2023 he became the Lesleigh Green - Bill and Nancy Green Endowed Chair in Dementia Research. Jürgen Götz performed undergraduate studies at the Biocenter of the University of Basel, before joining the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Georges Köhler to obtain his PhD degree in immunology. Subsequently, he took up postdoctoral positions at UCSF (San Francisco) and Sandoz Ltd (now Novartis, Basel), and worked as Research Group Leader (venia legendi, Dr. habil.) at the University of Zurich (Switzerland). Before taking up his current position, Jürgen Götz was a Professor and Chair of Molecular Biology at the University of Sydney.
Jürgen Götz is a highly cited researcher (Clarivate) and an expert in basic and translational research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how Tau and Aβ cause neurodegeneration, using transgenic and cellular models, and exploring low-intensity ultrasound as a novel treatment modality for AD and other brain diseases (>220 publications, including in leading journals such as Science, Cell, Lancet and Neuron; h-index = 86, 27,800+ citations, Google Scholar). Jürgen Götz and his team have built a clinical trial-ready therapeutic ultrasound device and started a first-in-human safety trial in 12 Alzheimer patients (April 2023).
Availability
- Professor Jurgen Götz is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg
Research interests
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Alzheimer's disease
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Transgenic modelling and pathomechanisms
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Therapeutic ultrasound as a drug delivery tool
Research impacts
Lesleigh Green - Bill and Nancy Green Endowed Chair in Dementia Research (2023-); Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) (2021); Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science (FAHMS) (2016); Foundation Chair of Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), University of Queensland (2012-).
I am an internationally renowned expert in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). I generated the first tau transgenic mouse model with an early AD phenotype (EMBO J 1995). Together with Dr. Hutton, I published the first mouse model with NFT formation (JBC 2001a). I provided long-sought evidence for the amyloid cascade hypothesis by combining a transgenic and a transplantation approach (Science 2001). This highly cited work was accompanied by an Editorial in the same issue of Science, and selected as Milestone Paper by Alzforum (alzforum.org). I demonstrated a role for FGF5 in the hair growth cycle (Cell 1994), worked on prions (Cell 1998), and showed that the catalytic subunit of PP2A is essential for development (PNAS 1998) and that PP2A is a key enzyme in tau phosphorylation (JBC 2001b, AmJPathol 2003). I established the first in vitro model of Aβ-induced tau filament formation (JBC 2003). Using functional genomics, I provided evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction and a role for glyoxalase in AD (PNAS 2003, JBC 2005, Proteomics 2006, PNAS 2009). I identified a novel function of tau in targeting the kinase Fyn to the to mediate Aβ toxicity (Cell 2010), and a role for Fyn in causing de novo protein synthesis of tau (EMBO J 2017). I also developed a novel ultrasound-based treatment of amyloid- and tau-depositing mice that we are currently developing for clinical application in AD patients (Science Transl Med 2015, Brain 2017, MolPsych 2021). This discovery elicited an overwhelming response from media (numerous media appearances calculated by the UQ Advancement Office to be worth $1m in advertising space rates in the two weeks following the 2015 publication) and the general public (2,000 e-mail requests from patients within four months of publication.
- Highly cited researcher (Clarivate, 2021, 2022)
- 67 of my publications have been cited in 1,121 patent documents: 659 granted patents; 431 patent applications and 31 searches.Jurisdictions include: World Intellectual Property Organization; United States Patent and Trademark Office; and the European Patent Office (The Lens,April 2022).
- Expertscape.com ranking (Top 0.02% of 182,647 published authors worldwide in AD:
225 peer-reviewed articles (3 Cell, 1 Science, 1 Science Transl Med, 3 Neuron, 8 PNAS, 9 EMBO J, 7 J. Biol. Chem., 3 Mol Psych, 5 Acta Neuropathol, 1 Lancet, 4 Nature Rev Neurosci, 3 Nature Rev Neurol, 1 Nature Rev Drug Disc, 3 Nature Prot, 5 Theranostics), Web of Science highly cited papers in the fields of Neuroscience & Behavior (5), Biology & Biochemistry, Pharmacology & Toxicology, and Molecular Biology & Genetics. >27,800 times (Google Scholar). Total Impact factor: 2,000; h-index: 86 (78 papers >100 cit).
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=67UrhCQAAAAJ&hl=en
Works
Search Professor Jurgen Götz’s works on UQ eSpace
2006
Journal Article
Impaired development of the Harderian gland in mutant protein phosphatase 2A transgenic mice
Schild, Andreas, Isenmann, Stefan, Tanimoto, Naoyuki, Tonagel, Felix, Seeliger, Mathias W., Ittner, Lars M., Kretz, Alexandra, Ogris, Egon and Gotz, Juergen (2006). Impaired development of the Harderian gland in mutant protein phosphatase 2A transgenic mice. Mechanisms of Development, 123 (5), 362-371. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2006.03.003
2006
Journal Article
Active immunization trial in Aβ42-injected P301L tau transgenic mice
Kulic, Luka, Kurosinski, Pascal, Chen, Feng, Tracy, Jay, Mohajeri, M. Hasan, Li, Hong, Nitsch, Roger M. and Gotz, Juergen (2006). Active immunization trial in Aβ42-injected P301L tau transgenic mice. Neurobiology of Disease, 22 (1), 50-56. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2005.10.002
2006
Journal Article
Enhanced vascular responses to adrenomedullin in mice overexpressing receptor-activity-modifying protein 2
Tam, CW, Husmann, K, Clark, NC, Clark, JE, Lazar, Z, Ittner, LM, Gotz, J, Douglas, G, Grant, AD, Sugden, D, Poston, L, Poston, R, McFadzean, I, Marber, MS, Fischer, JA, Born, W and Brain, SD (2006). Enhanced vascular responses to adrenomedullin in mice overexpressing receptor-activity-modifying protein 2. Circulation Research, 98 (2), 262-270. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000200737.638.65.58
2006
Journal Article
P70 S6 kinase mediates tau phosphorylation and synthesis
Pei, Jin-Jing, An, Wen-Lin, Zhou, Xin-Wen, Nishimura, Takeshi, Norberg, Jan, Benedikz, Eirikur, Gotz, Juergen and Winblad, Bengt (2006). P70 S6 kinase mediates tau phosphorylation and synthesis. FEBS Letters, 580 (1), 107-114. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.11.059
2006
Conference Publication
Transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease
Gotz, J. (2006). Transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease. 19th Congress of the European-College-of-Neuropsychopharmacology, Paris France, Sep 16-20, 2006. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. doi: 10.1016/S0924-977X(06)70110-9
2005
Journal Article
Different tau epitopes define Aβ42-mediated tau insolubility
Pennanen, Luis and Gotz, Juergen (2005). Different tau epitopes define Aβ42-mediated tau insolubility. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 337 (4), 1097-1101. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.09.168
2005
Journal Article
Proteomic and functional analyses reveal a mitochondrial dysfunction in P301L tau transgenic mice
David, Della C., Hauptmann, Susanne, Scherping, Isabel, Schuessel, Katrin, Keil, Uta, Rizzu, Patrizia, Ravid, Rivka, Drose, Stefan, Brandt, Ulrich, Muller, Walter E., Eckert, Anne and Gotz, Juergen (2005). Proteomic and functional analyses reveal a mitochondrial dysfunction in P301L tau transgenic mice. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280 (25), 23802-23814. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M500356200
2005
Journal Article
Functional genomics meets neurodegenerative disorders: part II: application and data integration
Hoerndli, Frederic, David, Della C. and Gotz, Juergen (2005). Functional genomics meets neurodegenerative disorders: part II: application and data integration. Progress in Neurobiology, 76 (3), 169-188. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2005.07.002
2005
Journal Article
Functional genomics meets neurodegenerative disorders: part I: transcriptomic and proteomic technology
David, Della C., Hoerndli, Frederic and Gotz, Juergen (2005). Functional genomics meets neurodegenerative disorders: part I: transcriptomic and proteomic technology. Progress in Neurobiology, 76 (3), 153-168. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2005.07.001
2005
Journal Article
Role of the protein tau in Alzheimer's disease
Götz, Jürgen, Ittner, Lars M. and David, Della C. (2005). Role of the protein tau in Alzheimer's disease. Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms, 2 (4), 395-400. doi: 10.1016/j.ddmec.2005.11.008
2004
Journal Article
Reference genes identified in SH-SY5Y cells using custom-made gene arrays with validation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Hoerndli, Frédéric J., Toigo, Marco, Schild, Andreas, Gotz, Jürgen and Day, Philip J. (2004). Reference genes identified in SH-SY5Y cells using custom-made gene arrays with validation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Analytical Biochemistry, 335 (1), 30-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2004.08.028
2004
Journal Article
Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation in Alzheimer's disease: insight from transgenic mouse and tissue-culture models
Gotz, Juergen, Schild, Andreas, Hoerndli, Fred and Pennanen, Luis (2004). Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation in Alzheimer's disease: insight from transgenic mouse and tissue-culture models. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 22 (7), 453-465. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.07.013
2004
Conference Publication
Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation addressed in vivo and in vitro
Pennanen, L, David, D, Hoerndli, F, Kurosinski, P, Chen, F, Schild, A, Ferrari, A, Nitsch, RM and Gotz, J (2004). Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation addressed in vivo and in vitro. 9th International Conference on Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders, Philadelphia Pa, Jul 17-22, 2004. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. doi: 10.1016/S0197-4580(04)80857-1
2004
Journal Article
Transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders: Histopathology, behavior and therapy
Gotz, J, Streffer, JR, David, D, Schild, A, Hoerndli, F, Pennanen, L, Kurosinski, P and Chen, F (2004). Transgenic animal models of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders: Histopathology, behavior and therapy. Molecular Psychiatry, 9 (7), 664-683. doi: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001508
2004
Journal Article
Role for glyoxalase I in Alzheimer's disease
Chen, Feng, Wollmer, M. Axel, Hoerndli, Frederic, Munch, Gerald, Kuhla, Bjorn, Rogaev, Evgeny I., Tsolaki, Magdalini, Papassotiropoulos, Andreas and Gotz, Juergen (2004). Role for glyoxalase I in Alzheimer's disease. National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, 101 (20), 7687-7692. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0402338101
2004
Journal Article
Accelerated extinction of conditioned taste aversion in P301L tau transgenic mice
Pennanen, Luis, Welzl, Hans, D'Adamo, Patrizia, Nitsch, Roger M. and Gotz, Juergen (2004). Accelerated extinction of conditioned taste aversion in P301L tau transgenic mice. Neurobiology of Disease, 15 (3), 500-509. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2003.11.020
2004
Journal Article
Genomic organisation, chromosomal localisation tissue distribution and developmental regulation of the PR61/B′ regulatory subunits of protein phosphatase 2A in mice
Martens, Ellen, Stevens, Ilse, Janssens, Veerle, Vermeesch, Joris, Gotz, Juergen, Goris, Jozef and Van Hoof , Christine Van (2004). Genomic organisation, chromosomal localisation tissue distribution and developmental regulation of the PR61/B′ regulatory subunits of protein phosphatase 2A in mice. Journal of Molecular Biology, 336 (4), 971-986. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2003.12.047
2004
Journal Article
Posttranslational modifications of tau - Role in human tauopathies and modeling in transgenic animals
Chen F., David D., Ferrari A. and Gotz J. (2004). Posttranslational modifications of tau - Role in human tauopathies and modeling in transgenic animals. Current Drug Targets, 5 (6), 503-515. doi: 10.2174/1389450043345236
2004
Journal Article
Transgenic Mice Expressing the Nucleoprotein of Borna Disease Virus in either Neurons or Astrocytes: Decreased Susceptibility to Homotypic Infection and Disease
Rauer, Mathias, Gotz, Jurgen, Schuppli, Daniel, Staeheli, Peter and Hausmann, Jurgen (2004). Transgenic Mice Expressing the Nucleoprotein of Borna Disease Virus in either Neurons or Astrocytes: Decreased Susceptibility to Homotypic Infection and Disease. Journal of Virology, 78 (7), 3621-3632. doi: 10.1128/JVI.78.7.3621-3632.2004
2003
Journal Article
β-amyloid induces paired helical filament-like tau filaments in tissue culture
Ferrari, Alessandra, Hoerndli, Frederic, Baechi, Thomas, Nitsch, Roger M. and Gotz, Juergen (2003). β-amyloid induces paired helical filament-like tau filaments in tissue culture. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278 (41), 40162-40168. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M308243200
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Jurgen Götz is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Pathomechanistic and therapeutic studies in Alzheimer disease with a focus on the role of the blood-brain barrier
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Esteban Cruz Gonzalez
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Doctor Philosophy
Feasibility study of using low-intensity focused ultrasound as a novel modality for the delivery of genetic material such as expression vectors and gene editing reagents to the mouse brain
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Esteban Cruz Gonzalez
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Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of autophagy induction in neurons following application of focused ultrasound.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Esteban Cruz Gonzalez
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the roles of microglia during development and in neurodegenerative disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
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Doctor Philosophy
Role of Microglia in Neurotrauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg, Dr Emily Willis, Professor Jana Vukovic
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the cellular and molecular bioeffects of ultrasound and microbubble treatment using advanced imaging approaches
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gerhard Leinenga, Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan
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Doctor Philosophy
Role of Microglia in Neurotrauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg, Dr Emily Willis, Professor Jana Vukovic
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Doctor Philosophy
Role of Microglia in Neurotrauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg, Dr Emily Willis, Professor Jana Vukovic
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the roles of microglia during development and in neurodegenerative disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
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Doctor Philosophy
In vitro microscopy studies into the organization and dynamics of key proteins that form the blood-brain barrier in physiological and pathological ageing and in response to therapeutic ultrasound
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gerhard Leinenga, Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the roles of microglia during development and in neurodegenerative disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic tools to study microglia and barrier-associated macrophages
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg, Dr Seung Jae Kim, Professor Jana Vukovic
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Doctor Philosophy
The impact of peripheral inflammation on neurodegeneration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and cellular studies of neurodegenerative disease and neuronal protein synthesis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juan Polanco, Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The role of the phosphatase STEP and kinase Fyn in neurophysiology and pathology
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the de novo proteome in neurodegenerative disease- a click chemistry approach
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier opening as a potential non-invasive therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Synaptic Apoptosis in Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of PTEN in Neurodegeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Tau in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Quality Control
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating in vivo the principles governing the spread of tau phosphorylation and amyloid-beta excitotoxicity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Massimo Hilliard
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The molecular mechanism of the Tau-Fyn interaction and dendritic targeting in neurons
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Frederic Meunier
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Investigations of the effects of scanning focused ultrasound in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Role of Microglia in Neurotrauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg, Dr Emily Willis, Professor Jana Vukovic
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the roles of microglia during development and in neurodegenerative disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Activity-dependent trafficking of NMDA receptors in mammalian central neurons
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Victor Anggono
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular mechanisms of inflammasome-driven Alzheimer's disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sabrina Sofia Burgener, Professor Kate Schroder
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating synaptic compensation following oligomeric Aß induced-dendritic spine loss.
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of novel small molecule PP2A inhibitors and their potential application in Alzheimer's Disease
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Tau-specific immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of tauopathies
Associate Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Role of microglia in traumatic brain injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jana Vukovic
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic Reorganization of Presynaptic Proteins During Neurotransmission and Neuronal Degeneration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Professor Frederic Meunier
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic study of Alzheimer's disease using mutant C. elegans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Paul Ebert
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Neurotrophin Regulation of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Coulson
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Jurgen Götz directly for media enquiries about:
- Alzheimer
- dementia
- therapeutic ultrasound
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