Magdalena Götz

Prof. Dr. Magdalena Götz is the Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research at Helmholtz Center Munich and a Professor of Physiological Genomics at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich. Her research focuses on neurogenesis, neural stem cells, and direct neuronal reprogramming of glial cells for brain repair.

• Education: Dr.rer.nat at Friedrich-Miescher Institute of the Max-Planck Society (1992)
• Postdoc: National Institute for Medical Research, London (1993-1996)

Her research interests span mechanisms of neural stem cell identity, brain development, and reprogramming strategies to convert glia into neurons with up to 90% efficiency in vivo. She pioneered direct neuronal reprogramming prior to induced pluripotent stem cells and discovered key factors like Akna and Hmgb2.

Her scientific awards include:

• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2007)
• Advanced ERC Grant (2014, 2020)
• Roger de Spoelberch Prize (2017)

Her recent publications highlight epigenetic remodeling during reprogramming, glial cell heterogeneity, and mitochondrial proteome contributions. These studies, spanning Nature Neuroscience, Science, and Nature Communications, underpin therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

She leads the Stem Cell Center at Helmholtz and collaborates with networks like NSC Reconstruct, Synergy, TRR274, and SPP Ferroptosis.