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Professor Jurgen Goetz

Director of CJCADR - GL

Queensland Brain Institute
j.goetz@uq.edu.au

Overview

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).

Research Interests

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Transgenic modelling and pathomechanisms
  • 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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Natural Science, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg

Publications

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Supervision

  • 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

    Doctor Philosophy

  • Molecular and cellular studies of neurodegenerative disease and neuronal protein synthesis

    (2023) Doctor Philosophy

  • Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of autophagy induction in neurons following application of focused ultrasound.

    Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Publications

Book Chapter

Journal Article

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

  • Scanning Focused Ultrasound disruption of the blood-brain barrier as an Alzheimer’s disease therapy

    Leinenga, Gerhard, Nisbet, Rebecca, Hatch, Robert, Van der Jeugd, Anneke, Evans, Harrison and Götz, Jürgen (2016). Scanning Focused Ultrasound disruption of the blood-brain barrier as an Alzheimer’s disease therapy. 5th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound, Bethesda, MD United States, 28 August - 1 September 2016. London, United Kingdom: BioMed Central. doi: 10.1186/s40349-016-0076-5

  • 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

  • The many facets of dementia - basic science and translational strategies

    Gotz, Jurgen (2016). The many facets of dementia - basic science and translational strategies. Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

  • Effects of scanning focused ultrasound in an Alzheimer's mouse model

    Leinenga, G. and Goetz, J. (2015). Effects of scanning focused ultrasound in an Alzheimer's mouse model. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian‐Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 23 - 27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

  • Neurotrophin regulation of Alzheimer's disease pathology

    Turnbull, M., Goetz, J. and Coulson, E. (2015). Neurotrophin regulation of Alzheimer's disease pathology. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188

  • Novel strategies to target tau and Ab toxicity

    Goetz, J., Nisbet, R., Leinenga, G. and Van der Jeugd, A. (2015). Novel strategies to target tau and Ab toxicity. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13186

  • Scanning ultrasound opens blood-brain barrier and improves pathologic abnormalities and behaviour in a mouse model of Alzheimer's

    Van der Jeugd, A., Leinenga, G., Nisbet, R. and Goetz, J. (2015). Scanning ultrasound opens blood-brain barrier and improves pathologic abnormalities and behaviour in a mouse model of Alzheimer's. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 23 - 27 August 2015. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

  • Striatal deficits underlie conflicted patterns of action selection in ageing

    Matamales, M., Skrbis, Z., Balleine, B., Goetz, J. and Bertran-Gonzalez, J. (2015). Striatal deficits underlie conflicted patterns of action selection in ageing. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188

  • 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

  • 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. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. doi: 10.1159/000283475

  • 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

  • Axonal transport in tau transgenic mouse models

    Goetz, J. and Ittner, L. M. (2009). Axonal transport in tau transgenic mouse models. 4th European-Society-for-Neurochemistry Conference on Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, Leipzig Germany, Jul 11-14, 2009. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.

  • Neurofibrillary pathology in the brainstem of the tau mutant pR5 mouse

    Schroeder, H., Goetz, J., Pilz, K., Kuhlage, S., de Vos, R. A. I., Bauer, T., Selzer, A. and Koehler, C. (2009). Neurofibrillary pathology in the brainstem of the tau mutant pR5 mouse. 9th International Conference on Alzheimers and Parkinson's Diseases (AD/PD), Prague Czech Republic, Mar 11-15, 2009. Bologna, Italy: Medimond.

  • Altered mitochondrial respiration and energy metabolism in brain cells from transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice

    Rhein, Virginie, Baysang, Ginette, Meier, Fides, Ozmen, Laurence, Bluethmann, Horst, Droese, Stefan, Brandt, Ulrich, Mueller-Spahn, Franz, Czech, Christian, Goetz, Jurgen and Eckert, Anne (2008). Altered mitochondrial respiration and energy metabolism in brain cells from transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice. 15th European Bioenergetic Conference, Dublin Ireland, Jul 19-24, 2008. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2008.05.335

  • Functional genomics dissects pathomechanisms in tauopathies: mitosis failure and unfolded protein response

    Gotz, J., David, D., Hoerndli, F., Ke, Y. D., Schonrock, N., Wiesner, A., Fath, T., Bokhari, L., Lim, Y.-A., Deters, N. and Ittner, L. M. (2008). Functional genomics dissects pathomechanisms in tauopathies: mitosis failure and unfolded protein response. Basel, Switzerland: S Karger. doi: 10.1159/000113696

  • Soluble beta-amyloid leads to mitochondrial defects in amyloid precursor protein and tau transgenic mice

    Eckert, Anne, Hauptmann, Susanne, Scherping, Isabel, Rhein, Virginie, Muller-Spahn, Franz, Gotz, Jürgen and Muller, Walter E. (2008). Soluble beta-amyloid leads to mitochondrial defects in amyloid precursor protein and tau transgenic mice. Basel, Switzerland: S Karger AG. doi: 10.1159/000113689

  • A decade of tau transgenic animal models and beyond

    Gotz J., Deters N., Doldissen A., Bokhari L., Ke Y., Wiesner A., Schonrock N. and Ittner L.M. (2007). A decade of tau transgenic animal models and beyond. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00051.x

  • Mitochondrial failure in a transgenic mice model of Alzheimer's disease with plaques and tangles

    Rhein, V, Baysang, G., Meier, F., Ozmen, L., Bluethmann, H., Savaskan, E., Mueller-Spahn, F., Czech, C., Goetz, J. and Eckert, A. (2007). Mitochondrial failure in a transgenic mice model of Alzheimer's disease with plaques and tangles. 25th Symposium of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft-Neuropsychopharmakologie-und-Pharmakopsychiatrie, Munich, Germany, 3-6 October 2007. Stuttgart, Germany: Georg Thieme. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-991813

  • 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

  • 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

  • In vivo and in vitro models of AD demonstrate a role of distinct phosphorylation sites of tau in neurofibrillary tangle formation

    Chen, E, Schild, A, Kurosinski, P, Pennanen, L, Hoerndli, E, David, D, Ferrari, A, Nitsch, RM and Gotz, J (2003). In vivo and in vitro models of AD demonstrate a role of distinct phosphorylation sites of tau in neurofibrillary tangle formation. 16th Congress of the European-College-of-Neuropsychopharmacology, Prague Czech Republic, Sep 20-24, 2003. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.

  • S.03.01 In vivo and in vitro models of AD demonstrate a role of distinct phosphorylation sites of tau in neurofibrillary tangle formation

    Chen, F., Schild, A., Kurosinski, P., Pennanen, L., Hoerndli, F., David, D., Ferrari, A., Nitsch, R.M. and Götz, J. (2003). S.03.01 In vivo and in vitro models of AD demonstrate a role of distinct phosphorylation sites of tau in neurofibrillary tangle formation. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/s0924-977x(03)91605-1

  • Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation

    Gotz, J, Chen, F, Ferrari, A, Kurosinski, P, Schild, A, Nitsch, RM and van Dorpe, J (2002). Amyloid-induced neurofibrillary tangle formation. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC.

  • Interactions of beta-amyloid with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in transgenic mice

    Gotz, J, Chen, F and Nitsch, RM (2002). Interactions of beta-amyloid with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in transgenic mice. 5th International Conference on the Progress in Alzheimers and Parkinsons Disease/9th International Catecholamine Symposium, Kyoto Japan, Mar 31-Apr 05, 2001. NEW YORK: KLUWER ACADEMIC/PLENUM PUBL.

  • The role of beta-amyloid addressed in tau filament-forming mice

    Chen, F, Ferrari, A, Nitsch, RM and Gotz, J (2001). The role of beta-amyloid addressed in tau filament-forming mice. BLACKWELL SCIENCE LTD.

  • In vivo analysis of wild-type and FTDP-17 tau transgenic mice

    Götz, J., Barmettler, R., Ferrari, A., Goedert, M., Probst, A. and Nitsch, R. M. (2000). In vivo analysis of wild-type and FTDP-17 tau transgenic mice. New York Academy of Sciences.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Alzheimer, dementia, therapeutic ultrasound

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ResearcherID: C-2448-2014

ORCID: 0000-0001-8501-7896

Scopus ID: 7006610653

Google Scholar ID: 67UrhCQAAAAJ

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