Christine Van Broeckhoven

Prof. Dr. Van Broeckhoven, Christine obtained her bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1973, her master's degree in Biochemistry in 1975, her PhD in Molecular Biology in 1980, and a doctorate in Molecular Genetics in 1994 from the University of Antwerp. She is currently a full professor in molecular biology and genetics at the University of Antwerp. She is department director of the Department of Molecular Genetics of the VIB and senior group leader of the Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group within this department.

She is also research director of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at the Institute Born-Bunge. Her current team is specialized in the molecular genetics of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and Parkinson’s disease. They receive competitive funding from the University of Antwerp, the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders, the Institute for Science and Technology – Flanders, the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, the Flemish Government, the European Commission and different charity organizations such as the Foundation for Alzheimer Research (SAO-FRMA); Belgium, and the Alzheimer Association and the Association for Frontotemporal Dementia, USA.

She has been awarded several national and international scientific prizes for her molecular genetics work like the Potamkin Prize USA in 1993 for her contribution to the identification of APP as a gene for Alzheimer’s disease. In 1995, she received the 5-yearly Joseph Maisin Prize by the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research for her scientific oeuvre. In 2006 she was honored with the International Award for Women in Science by L’Oréal/UNESCO. In 2006, she was honored by the King of Belgium with the title of Grand Officer in the Order of Léopold and in 2009 with the title of Chevalier dans la Légion d’Honneur by the President of France. She is a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Sciences and the Arts of Belgium.

For personal reasons Dr. Van Broeckhoven will be unable to attend the conference. Dr. Jean-Jacques Cassiman has been so kind as to accept to replace her.