Patrik Verstreken

Patrik Verstreken - Scientific Director of the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, KU Leuven 

Patrik Verstreken studied Bioengineering at the university of Brussels and moved in 1998 to the medical center in Houston Tx for his PhD and postdoc.  He joined the faculty at KU Leuven and became VIB group leader in 2007, and director of the VIB-KU Leuven center for Brain & Disease research in 2017. Patrik’s work has been recognized by several honors, including the AstraZeneca Award, the IBRO-Kemali prize in Neuroscience and he is an EMBO member.  With support of 4 ERC grants, including a recent Advanced Grant, Patrik’s lab investigates the underlying causes of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and builds new tools and insight to counteract disease-induced dysfunction.  This led to numerous publications, patents and the foundation of a biotech startup.