
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
2011
Conference Publication
Novel functions of the protein tau in disease
Gotz, Jurgen (2011). Novel functions of the protein tau in disease. ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2011.07.111
2011
Journal Article
Brief update on different roles of tau in neurodegeneration
Ittner, Arne, Ke, Yazi D., van Eersel, Janet, Gladbach, Amadeus, Gotz, Jurgen and Ittner, Lars M. (2011). Brief update on different roles of tau in neurodegeneration. IUBMB Life, 63 (7), 495-502. doi: 10.1002/iub.467
2011
Journal Article
Altered phosphorylation but no neurodegeneration in a mouse model of tau hyperphosphorylation
Hundelt, M., Fath, T., Selle, K., Oesterwind, K., Jordan, J., Schultz, C., Götz, J., von Engelhardt, J., Monyer, H., Lewejohann, L., Sachser, N., Bakota, L. and Brandt, R. (2011). Altered phosphorylation but no neurodegeneration in a mouse model of tau hyperphosphorylation. Neurobiology of Aging, 32 (6), 991-1006. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.06.007
2011
Journal Article
Reduced secretagogin expression in the hippocampus of P301L tau transgenic mice
Attems, Johannes, Ittner, Arne, Jellinger, Kurt, Nitsch, Roger M., Maj, Magdalena, Wagner, Ludwig, Gotz, Jurgen and Heikenwalder, Mathias (2011). Reduced secretagogin expression in the hippocampus of P301L tau transgenic mice. Journal of Neural Transmission, 118 (5), 737-745. doi: 10.1007/s00702-011-0626-5
2011
Journal Article
Modes of Aβ toxicity in Alzheimer's disease
Gotz, Jurgen, Eckert, Anne, Matamales, Miriam, Ittner, Lars M. and Liu, Xin (2011). Modes of Aβ toxicity in Alzheimer's disease. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 68 (20), 3359-3375. doi: 10.1007/s00018-011-0750-2
2011
Journal Article
Invertebrate and vertebrate models of tauopathies
Goetz, Juergen, Ittner, Lars M., Goetz, Naeman N., Lam, Hong and Nicholas, Hannah R. (2011). Invertebrate and vertebrate models of tauopathies. Animal Models for Neurodegenerative Disease (6), 69-85. doi: 10.1039/9781849732758
2011
Journal Article
Amyloid-β and tau - A toxic pas de deux in Alzheimer's disease
Ittner, Lars M. and Gotz, Jürgen (2011). Amyloid-β and tau - A toxic pas de deux in Alzheimer's disease. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12 (2), 67-72. doi: 10.1038/nrn2967
2011
Journal Article
ENU mutagenesis screen to establish motor phenotypes in wild-type mice and modifiers of a pre-existing motor phenotype in tau mutant mice
Liu, Xin, Dobbie, Michael, Tunningley, Rob, Whittle, Belinda, Zhang, Yafei, Ittner, Lars M. and Gotz, Jurgen (2011). ENU mutagenesis screen to establish motor phenotypes in wild-type mice and modifiers of a pre-existing motor phenotype in tau mutant mice. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2011 (1) 130947, 130947.1-130947.11. doi: 10.1155/2011/130947
2010
Journal Article
Analysis of the cholinergic pathology in the P301L tau transgenic pR5 model of tauopathy
Kohler, C., Bista, P., Gotz, J. and Schroder, H. (2010). Analysis of the cholinergic pathology in the P301L tau transgenic pR5 model of tauopathy. Brain Research, 1347, 111-124. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.05.076
2010
Journal Article
Sodium selenate mitigates tau pathology, neurodegeneration, and functional deficits in Alzheimer's disease models
van Eersel, Janet, Ke, Yazi D., Liu, Xin, Delerue, Fabien, Kril, Jillian J., Gotz, Jürgen and Ittner, Lars M. (2010). Sodium selenate mitigates tau pathology, neurodegeneration, and functional deficits in Alzheimer's disease models. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107 (31), 13888-13893. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1009038107
2010
Journal Article
Convergence of amyloid-β and tau pathologies on mitochondria in vivo
Eckert, Anne, Schulz, Kathrin L., Rhein, Virginie and Gotz, Jürgen (2010). Convergence of amyloid-β and tau pathologies on mitochondria in vivo. Molecular Neurobiology, 41 (2-3), 107-114. doi: 10.1007/s12035-010-8109-5
2010
Journal Article
Neuronal microrna deregulation in response to Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β
Schonrock, Nicole, Ke, Yazi D., Humphreys, David, Staufenbiel, Matthias, Ittner, Lars M., Preiss, Thomas and Gotz, Jurgen (2010). Neuronal microrna deregulation in response to Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β. PLoS ONE, 5 (6) e11070, e11070.1-e11070.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011070
2010
Conference Publication
Dissecting Toxicity of Tau and β-Amyloid
Gotz, Jurgen, Lim, Yun-An, Ke, Yazi D., Eckert, Anne and Ittner, Lars M. (2010). Dissecting Toxicity of Tau and β-Amyloid. 9th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases (AD/PD), Prague Czech Republic, Mar 11-15, 2009. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. doi: 10.1159/000283475
2010
Journal Article
Aβ and human amylin share a common toxicity pathway via mitochondrial dysfunction
Lim, Yun-An, Rhein, Virginie, Baysang, Ginette, Meier, Fides, Poljak, Anne, Raftery, Mark J., Guilhaus, Michael, Ittner, Lars M., Eckert, Anne and Gotz, Jürgen (2010). Aβ and human amylin share a common toxicity pathway via mitochondrial dysfunction. Proteomics, 10 (8), 1621-1633. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200900651
2010
Journal Article
Gateway-compatible lentiviral transfer vectors for ubiquitin promoter driven expression of fluorescent fusion proteins
Krupka, Niklas, Strappe, Padraig, Gotz, Jürgen and Ittner, Lars M. (2010). Gateway-compatible lentiviral transfer vectors for ubiquitin promoter driven expression of fluorescent fusion proteins. Plasmid, 63 (3), 155-160. doi: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2010.01.002
2010
Journal Article
Animal models reveal role for tau phosphorylation in human disease
Gotz, Jurgen, Gladbach, Amadeus, Pennanen, Luis, van Eersel, Janet, Schild, Andreas, David, Della and Ittner, Lars M. (2010). Animal models reveal role for tau phosphorylation in human disease. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1802 (10), 860-871. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2009.09.008
2010
Journal Article
Dendritic function of tau mediates amyloid-β toxicity in Alzheimer's disease mouse models
Ittner, Lars M., Ke, Yazi D., Delerue, Fabien, Bi, Mian, Gladbach, Amadeus, van Eersel, Janet, Wolfing, Heidrun, Chieng, Billy C., Christie, MacDonald J., Napier, Ian A., Eckert, Anne, Staufenbiel, Matthias, Hardeman, Edna and Gotz, Jurgen (2010). Dendritic function of tau mediates amyloid-β toxicity in Alzheimer's disease mouse models. Cell, 142 (3), 387-397. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.06.036
2010
Conference Publication
Convergence of amyloid-β and tau pathologies on mitochondria in vivo
Eckert, Anne, Schulz, Kathrin L., Rhein, Virginie and Götz, Jürgen (2010). Convergence of amyloid-β and tau pathologies on mitochondria in vivo. Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/s12035-010-8109-5
2010
Journal Article
Parkinson's disease: insights from non-traditional model organisms
Pienaar, Ilse S., Gotz, Jürgen and Feany, Mel B. (2010). Parkinson's disease: insights from non-traditional model organisms. Progress in Neurobiology, 92 (4), 558-571. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.09.001
2009
Journal Article
Animal models for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia: A perspective
Götz, Jürgen and Götz, Naeman N. (2009). Animal models for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia: A perspective. ASN Neuro, 1 (4) e00019, 251-264. doi: 10.1042/AN20090042
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
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
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
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the roles of microglia during development and in neurodegenerative disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Liviu Bodea
-
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
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
Tau-specific immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of tauopathies
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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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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