John
Hardy

Professor Sir John Hardy, based at the Queen Square Institute of Neurology at University College London (UCL), where he is the Chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease, is a human geneticist renowned for his pivotal work on Alzheimer’s disease. He works closely with other academic institutions and advises pharmaceutical companies on the genetics of neurodegenerative diseases. Professor Hardy’s research focuses on the genetic analysis of neurodegenerative diseases; he was instrumental in identifying the first Alzheimer’s-causing mutations in the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) gene, a discovery that directly led to his formulation of the amyloid cascade hypothesis. This hypothesis has profoundly shaped a substantial portion of research in AD, including clinical trials and therapeutic target design, for many years, and remains a central theory in the field. His leadership and contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including a Knighthood.