Change in the Scientific Advisory Board of the Alzheimer Research Initiative eV: Leipzig brain researcher Prof. Dr. Thomas Arendt takes over as chairman

16.01.2015 14:42

Prof. Dr. Thomas Arendt is the new chairman of the scientific advisory board of the non-profit Alzheimer Research Initiative eV (AFI). The head of the Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research at the University of Leipzig succeeds Prof. Dr. Walter E. Müller from the Goethe University Frankfurt. Arendt has been associated with the AFI as an advisory board member since 2003 and was most recently deputy chairman.

“Prof. Dr. “Thomas Arendt is a proven specialist and recognized expert in the field of Alzheimer’s research with outstanding scientific expertise,” said AFI Chairman Dr. Michael Lorrain. “At the same time, I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Walter Müller for his extremely great commitment over the past 13 years. He has significantly developed the AFI’s research funding and introduced new funding opportunities specifically for young researchers with pilot projects, travel grants and further training stays.”

New members of the AFI Scientific Advisory Board were Prof. Dr. Manuela Neumann and Prof. Dr. Sascha Weggen. Prof. Dr. Manuela Neumann is medical director of the neuropathology department at the University Hospital of Tübingen and head of the “neuropathology” research group at the DZNE site in Tübingen. Prof. Dr. Sascha Weggen from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf has headed the “Molecular Neuropathology Working Group” at the Institute of Neuropathology since 2007.

The AFI is the largest private sponsor of Alzheimer's research in Germany. So far, 156 scientists have been supported in Alzheimer's research with over 7 million euros. All funding applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Scientific Advisory Board of the AFI and its European sister organizations in France and the Netherlands in a two-stage process.

The AFI Scientific Advisory Board consists of: Prof. Dr. Thomas Arendt (University of Leipzig), Prof. Dr. Thomas Bayer (University of Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Roland Brandt (University of Osnabrück), Prof. Dr. Manuela Neumann (University of Tübingen), Prof. Dr. Jörg B. Schulz (RWTH Aachen), Prof. Dr. Stefan Teipel (University of Rostock) and Prof. Dr. Sascha Weggen (University of Düsseldorf). All advisory boards support the Alzheimer Research Initiative eV on a voluntary basis.