Ann Massie

Ann Massie is a Professor in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in Neuro-Aging, Viro-Immunotherapy, and metabolic regulation. She leads the Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy research group, focusing on glutamate transporters (system xc-), neurodegenerative diseases, and aging mechanisms.

• Education: Master's thesis in Neuroscience (VUB, 1998)

Her research interests include the role of system xc- in neuroinflammation, metabolic health, and age-related diseases. Key projects involve developing therapies targeting system xc- to combat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and investigating lifespan extension in model organisms. Recent work links system xc- inhibition to improved mitochondrial health in aging brains.

Publications span neuropharmacology, immunology, and metabolic disorders, with over 225 research outputs and 3,766 citations. Awards include FWO fellowships and the Charcot Research Fund. She actively supervises PhD candidates and collaborates internationally on translational projects like RAPTOR (bioreactor systems for protein production).

• Notable Grants: OZR4288 (bioreactors), FWOTM1192 (system xc- in obesity)

Media engagements highlight breakthroughs in aging research, such as identifying genetic factors for extended lifespan in mice. She co-leads the SRP85 initiative to translate cognitive biology into clinical brain disorder treatments.