Opening Session

Prof. John Hardy is a distinguished geneticist and molecular biologist celebrated for his pioneering research in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Born on 10 July 1945, in the United Kingdom, he earned his B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Leeds in 1976 and his Ph.D. from Imperial College, London, where he studied dopamine and amino acid neuropharmacology. Following postdoctoral training at the MRC Neuropathogenesis Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne and the Swedish Brain Bank in Umeå, he began his focus on Alzheimer's disease.

In 1985, he became Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College, where he initiated genetic studies of Alzheimer’s. He later held various prestigious positions, including the Pfeiffer Endowed Chair of Alzheimer’s Research at the University of South Florida and Chair of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic. In 2001, he joined the National Institute on Aging as Chief of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics.

Hardy's groundbreaking work established a genetic connection to Alzheimer’s pathology, particularly identifying mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. With over 23,000 citations, he is the most cited Alzheimer's researcher in the UK and has received numerous accolades, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in 2016 and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009. His research continues to shape the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.