Congratulations to Prof Bart De Strooper, Founding Director of the UK DRI and Group Leader at the UK DRI at UCL and the Crick, who has received an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Prof De Strooper’s groundbreaking research into the fundamental disease mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s helped lay the foundations for the anti-amyloid therapies we see emerging today.
Prof De Strooper, a world-renowned Alzheimer's researcher, led the UK DRI since it was established in 2016, before stepping down to focus on his research in 2022. Under his leadership, the Institute became internationally renowned for its expertise and made many important contributions to the neurodegeneration field.
Bart is best known for his work on the role of presenilin and gamma-secretase in the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). When processed abnormally, APP produces toxic amyloid beta, which accumulates to form plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. More recently, Bart has worked on a cellular theory for Alzheimer’s to explain how different cell types, and their underlying genetics and behaviour, contribute to the progressive disease process.
He has received several major awards including the Potamkin prize, the Metlife Foundation Award for Medical Research, Alois Alzheimer’s prize, the highly prestigious Brain Prize and Commander in the Order of Leopold I (Belgium).
Bart’s lab at the UK DRI at UCL (based at the Crick), which he leads along with Dr Lorena Arancibia Carcamo, continues to investigate the effects of amyloid beta on different cell types, including neurons and support cells in the brain. The team aim to identify key cellular changes that will lead to new therapeutic targets.
On receiving the CBE, Prof De Strooper said:
“I am honoured by this recognition, which I see as a tribute to the many colleagues who helped establish the UK Dementia Research Institute and to our shared commitment to advancing dementia research for the benefit of patients and society.”
Prof Siddharthan Chandran, UK DRI Director, said:
“We warmly congratulate Bart on receiving this award. It is richly deserved, and a fitting recognition of his leadership and dedication in founding and shaping the UK DRI. His vision laid the foundation on which our achievements continue to build, around our shared goal to transform through research the outlook for people living with or at risk of dementias.”
