Mikael Simons

Prof. Dr. Mikael Simons serves as a W3-Professor and Director of the Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology at Technical University Munich (TUM) and as a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Munich. His lab is also affiliated with the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD). He additionally serves as Head of Clinical Research & Clinical Trial Unit Munich at DZNE.

Dr. Simons' research focuses on glial biology, particularly on oligodendrocytes and myelin in the central nervous system, and microglia in neuroinflammation. His work spans from fundamental mechanisms of myelin formation and maintenance to understanding how glial dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. His lab employs advanced techniques including genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and advanced light and electron microscopy.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward understanding the intersection of lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on how myelin dysfunction contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathology and how aging affects white matter integrity. His work increasingly connects glial cell biology with broader metabolic and inflammatory processes in the brain.

• National award for the best MD thesis in Germany (1995)
• EMBO Young Investigator Award (2008)
• ERC Starting Grant (2008), ERC Consolidator Grant (2014), ERC Advanced Grant (2020)
• Ilse & Hans Breuer Award for Alzheimer Disease Research (2014)
• Member of German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (2023)

Dr. Simons actively mentors numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with his lab currently hosting over a dozen graduate students. His research is supported by multiple prestigious funding sources including European Research Council grants, the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. He also leads the Collaborative Research Centre (TRR 274) and co-heads the single-cell genomics hub and electron microscopy hub within the Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy).

The Simons Lab operates at the Center of Stroke and Dementia Research at Campus Grosshadern in Munich, with close collaborations across multiple institutions including TUM, DZNE, and ISD. The lab employs diverse experimental models including mice, zebrafish, and iPSC-derived human cell systems to investigate fundamental aspects of glial cell biology in health and disease.