Thomas Gasser

Prof. Dr. Thomas Gasser serves as Group Leader and Clinical Coordinator at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Tübingen, holding a professorship at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Medicine. His research centers on Parkinson's disease—the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's—with a focus on genetic mechanisms driving its increasing global incidence.

His primary research thrust involves dissecting genetic risk factors to construct comprehensive disease profiles, enabling novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The group investigates how genetic insights can identify proteins modulating Parkinson's progression, directly translating findings into clinical applications through international consortia like the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2). This initiative aggregates genetic data from thousands of patients worldwide to uncover variants beyond currently known risk factors.

Prof. Gasser actively bridges laboratory research and clinical practice, with his work already facilitating targeted clinical trials for genetically defined Parkinson's subgroups. These trials test disease-modifying therapies correcting metabolic disorders caused by specific mutations, positioning his team at the forefront of precision medicine for neurodegeneration.

His group operates within DZNE's Tübingen site (Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3), maintaining extensive global collaborations to accelerate genetic discovery and therapeutic development for Parkinson's disease.