F.-Ulrich Hartl

Prof. Dr. F.-Ulrich Hartl is the Director of the Department of Cellular Biochemistry at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany. His research focuses on molecular chaperones, protein folding, proteostasis maintenance, and mechanisms linking protein aggregation to aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.

Education:

• MD, University of Heidelberg (1982)
• Dr.med., University of Munich (1985)
• Dr.med.habil., University of Munich (1990)

Research Interests: Hartl's work investigates how molecular chaperones (e.g., chaperonins) facilitate protein folding and prevent toxic aggregation. His team explores age-dependent proteostasis collapse and develops strategies to counteract neurodegenerative pathologies. Recent studies highlight chaperone roles in amyloid formation, biomolecular condensates, and autophagy regulation.

Scientific Awards:

• 2023 Schleiden Medal
• 2022 Nakasone Award
• 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
• 2011 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
• 2002 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
• 2000 Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Over 20 additional major awards (1985–2023)

Advising: Hartl mentors 14 PhD students and collaborates with group leaders like Dr. Roman Körner (mass spectrometry) and Dr. Sae-Hun Park (protein folding). His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining structural biology, proteomics, and neurodegenerative disease modeling.