
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
2017
Journal Article
Combined effects of scanning ultrasound and a tau-specific single chain antibody in a tau transgenic mouse model
Nisbet, Rebecca M., Van der Jeugd, Ann, Leinenga, Gerhard, Evans, Harrison T., Janowicz, Phillip W. and Goetz, Juergen (2017). Combined effects of scanning ultrasound and a tau-specific single chain antibody in a tau transgenic mouse model. Brain, 140 (5), 1220-1230. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx052
2017
Journal Article
Mouse models of frontotemporal dementia: a comparison of phenotypes with clinical symptomatology
Ahmed, Rebekah M., Irish, Muireann, van Eersel, Janet, Ittner, Arne, Ke, Yazi D., Volkerling, Alexander, van der Hoven, Julia, Tanaka, Kimi, Karl, Tim, Kassiou, Michael, Kril, Jillian J., Piguet, Olivier, Goetz, Juergen, Kiernan, Matthew C., Halliday, Glenda M., Hodges, John R. and Ittner, Lars M. (2017). Mouse models of frontotemporal dementia: a comparison of phenotypes with clinical symptomatology. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 74 (A), 126-138. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.004
2017
Journal Article
Accelerated aging exacerbates a pre-existing pathology in a tau transgenic mouse model
Bodea, Liviu-Gabriel, Evans, Harrison Tudor, Van der Jeugd, Ann, Ittner, Lars M., Delerue, Fabien, Kril, Jillian, Halliday, Glenda, Hodges, John, Kiernan, Mathew C. and Goetz, Juergen (2017). Accelerated aging exacerbates a pre-existing pathology in a tau transgenic mouse model. Aging Cell, 16 (2), 377-386. doi: 10.1111/acel.12565
2016
Journal Article
Scanning ultrasound (SUS) causes no changes to neuronal excitability and prevents age-related reductions in hippocampal CA1 dendritic structure in wild-type mice
Hatch, Robert John, Leinenga, Gerhard and Götz, Jürgen (2016). Scanning ultrasound (SUS) causes no changes to neuronal excitability and prevents age-related reductions in hippocampal CA1 dendritic structure in wild-type mice. PloS One, 11 (10) e0164278, e0164278. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164278
2016
Journal Article
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects against tau-related neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease
Jiao, S. -S., Shen, L. -L., Zhu, C., Bu, X. -L., Liu, Y. -H., Liu, C. -H., Yao, X. -Q., Zhang, L. -L., Zhou, H. -D., Walker, D. G., Tan, J., Goetz, J., Zhou, X. -F. and Wang, Y. -J. (2016). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects against tau-related neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. Translational Psychiatry, 6 (10) e907, e907-e907. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.186
2016
Journal Article
Munc18-1 is a molecular chaperone for α-synuclein, controlling its self-replicating aggregation
Chai, Ye Jin, Sierecki, Emma, Tomatis, Vanesa M., Gormal, Rachel S., Giles, Nichole, Morrow, Isabel C., Xia, Di, Götz, Jürgen, Parton, Robert G., Collins, Brett M., Gambin, Yann and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2016). Munc18-1 is a molecular chaperone for α-synuclein, controlling its self-replicating aggregation. The Journal of Cell Biology, 214 (6) 705, 705-718. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201512016
2016
Journal Article
Special issue on 'Cytoskeletal proteins in health and neurodegenerative disease'
Brandt, Roland and Goetz, Juergen (2016). Special issue on 'Cytoskeletal proteins in health and neurodegenerative disease'. Brain Research Bulletin, 126 (3), 213-216. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.08.003
2016
Journal Article
Motor cortical function determines prognosis in sporadic ALS
Shibuya, Kazumoto, Park, Susanna B., Geevasinga, Nimeshan, Menon, Parvathi, Howells, James, Simon, Neil G., Huynh, William, Noto, Yu-ichi, Gotz, Jurgen, Kril, Jillian J., Ittner, Lars M., Hodges, John, Halliday, Glenda, Vucic, Steve and Kiernan, Matthew C. (2016). Motor cortical function determines prognosis in sporadic ALS. Neurology, 87 (5), 513-520. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002912
2016
Journal Article
Tau physiology and pathomechanisms in frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Bodea, Liviu-Gabriel, Eckert, Anne, Ittner, Lars Matthias, Piguet, Olivier and Götz, Juergen (2016). Tau physiology and pathomechanisms in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Journal of Neurochemistry, 138 (S1), 71-94. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13600
2016
Journal Article
Mobility and subcellular localization of endogenous, gene-edited Tau differs from that of over-expressed human wild-type and P301L mutant Tau
Xia, Di, Gutmann, Julia M. and Gotz, Jurgen (2016). Mobility and subcellular localization of endogenous, gene-edited Tau differs from that of over-expressed human wild-type and P301L mutant Tau. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 29074, 29074. doi: 10.1038/srep29074
2016
Journal Article
Quantitative imaging of cholinergic interneurons reveals a distinctive spatial organization and a functional gradient across the mouse striatum
Matamales, Miriam, Gotz, Jurgen and Bertran-Gonzalez, Jesus (2016). Quantitative imaging of cholinergic interneurons reveals a distinctive spatial organization and a functional gradient across the mouse striatum. PLoS One, 11 (6) e0157682, 1-13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157682
2016
Journal Article
Extracellular vesicles isolated from the brains of rTg4510 mice seed tau protein aggregation in a threshold-dependent manner
Polanco, Juan Carlos, Scicluna, Benjamin James, Hill, Andrew Francis and Gotz, Jurgen (2016). Extracellular vesicles isolated from the brains of rTg4510 mice seed tau protein aggregation in a threshold-dependent manner. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291 (24), 12445-12466. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.709485
2016
Journal Article
Aging-related dysfunction of striatal cholinergic interneurons produces conflict in action selection
Matamales, Miriam, Skrbis, Zala, Hatch, Robert J., Balleine, Bernard W., Gotz, Jurgen and Bertran-Gonzalez, Jesus (2016). Aging-related dysfunction of striatal cholinergic interneurons produces conflict in action selection. Neuron, 90 (2), 362-373. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.03.006
2016
Journal Article
Co-immunoprecipitation with Tau isoform-specific antibodies reveals distinct protein interactions and highlights a putative role for 2N Tau in disease
Liu, Chang, Song, Xiaomin, Nisbet, Rebecca and Goetz, Juergen (2016). Co-immunoprecipitation with Tau isoform-specific antibodies reveals distinct protein interactions and highlights a putative role for 2N Tau in disease. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291 (15), 8173-8188. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.641902
2016
Journal Article
A local insult of okadaic acid in wild-type mice induces tau phosphorylation and protein aggregation in anatomically distinct brain regions
Baker, Sian and Götz, Jürgen (2016). A local insult of okadaic acid in wild-type mice induces tau phosphorylation and protein aggregation in anatomically distinct brain regions. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 4 (1) 32, 32.1-32.13. doi: 10.1186/s40478-016-0300-0
2016
Journal Article
Impulsivity, decreased social exploration, and executive dysfunction in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia
Van der Jeugd, Ann, Vermaercke, Ben, Halliday, Glenda M., Staufenbiel, Matthias and Gotz, Jürgen (2016). Impulsivity, decreased social exploration, and executive dysfunction in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 130, 34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.01.007
2016
Journal Article
The frontotemporal dementia-motor neuron disease continuum
Burrell, James R., Halliday, Glenda M., Kril, Jillian J., Ittner, Lars M., Gotz, Jurgen, Kiernan, Matthew C. and Hodges, John R. (2016). The frontotemporal dementia-motor neuron disease continuum. The Lancet, 388 (10047), 919-931. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00737-6
2016
Journal Article
Ultrasound treatment of neurological diseases — current and emerging applications
Leinenga, Gerhard, Langton, Christian, Nisbet, Rebecca and Gotz, Jurgen (2016). Ultrasound treatment of neurological diseases — current and emerging applications. Nature Reviews Neurology, 12 (3), 161-174. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2016.13
2016
Conference Publication
SPECIFIC ALTERATIONS OF TAU PHOSPHORYLATION AND NEURONAL SIGNALING INDUCED BY THE AMYLOID-beta OLIGOMER A beta*56
Lesne, Sylvain, Amar, Fatou, Sherman, Mathew, Rush, Travis, Larson, Megan, Chang, Liu, Gotz, Jurgen, Schneider, Julie, Bennett, David, Ashe, Karen and Buisson, Alain (2016). SPECIFIC ALTERATIONS OF TAU PHOSPHORYLATION AND NEURONAL SIGNALING INDUCED BY THE AMYLOID-beta OLIGOMER A beta*56. 14th International Athens/Springfield Symposium on Advances In Alzheimer Therapy, Athens, Greece, Mar 09-12, 2016. NEW YORK: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.01.117
2016
Conference Publication
Scanning ultrasound as a treatment tool of proteinopathies including Alzheimer’s disease
Götz, Jürgen, Nisbet, Rebecca, Van der Jeugd, Ann, Evans, Harrison and Leinenga, Gerhard (2016). Scanning ultrasound as a treatment tool of proteinopathies including Alzheimer’s disease. 5th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound, Bethesda, MD, USA, 28 August - 1 September 2016. London, United Kingdom: BioMed Central. doi: 10.1186/s40349-016-0076-5
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
-
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
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
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
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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