Congratulations to new Head of Neuroscience, Professor Helmut Butzkueven

Professor Helmut Butzkueven is an international leader in

translational research into Multiple Sclerosis

Monash University and Alfred Health are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Helmut Butzkueven to the joint position as The Van Cleef Roet Chair of Neuroscience and Head of the Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, and Director of Neurology, Alfred Health.

Professor Butzkueven is an outstanding Neurologist and Clinician-Scientist, who is an international leader in translational research into Multiple Sclerosis. Amongst his many research achievements is the founding of the international MSBase Immunology Registry, which has now prospectively enrolled >70,000 patients from 36 countries and resulted in multiple publications that have directly impacted on patient care worldwide.

Professor Butzkueven was recruited to Alfred Health and Monash University in 2018 as Professor of Neuroimmunology and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Neuroimmunology (MSNI) Clinic at The Alfred. Under his leadership the MSNI Clinic and MSNI research has showed remarkable growth, introduced new innovative models of care, and developed world leading research programs that have secured >$30M of research income.

Prior to his recruitment to the Alfred and Monash University, Professor Butzkueven had led the Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology clinical and research programs at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and at Eastern Health, and the University of Melbourne. He completed his PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2003, and subsequently a post-doctoral fellowship at The Howard Florey Institute.

He has received multiple awards for his research and medical leadership, including The Bethlehem Griffith Research Foundation Award, The Australian Museum and University of NSW Eureka Prize and the Research Australia Health and Medical Research Data Innovation Award.

In 2020 Professor Butzkueven was awarded a highly competitive NHMRC Research Leader Investigator grant, recognising his track record and vision as one of the leading medical researchers in Australia. In addition to his research leadership credentials, Professor Butzkueven has over 20 years’ experience as a clinical neurologist, and is widely recognised as an outstanding and empathic clinician. He is also a passionate teacher and mentor of young clinicians and researchers, and has done an outstanding job as Research Higher Degree Coordinator for more than a decade at The University of Melbourne and Monash University.

Professor Butzkueven began his new appointments on Monday 3 August 2020. He said, "I want to take a moment to thank and acknowledge my mentor Professor Terence O'Brien for all his critical work in the establishment of the department, which I'm sure you are all proud to be part of and wouldn't be what it is today without his great vision.

"Since its commencement in 2018, he has guided the enormous growth of our department, which now has over 150 staff and more than 40 higher degree students. The department has 24 research groups active in basic and translational neuroscience, world-class small animal imaging facilities, a rapidly growing human imaging research department, strong synergy with both Monash Neurosciences and Alfred Health, and very significant grant success including 5 NHMRC Investigator Grants. From all of us in the department, well done and thank you!"

Please join us in congratulating Helmut on his appointment.

See more about Prof Butzkueven's research: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/ccs/neuroscience/research/butzkueven-group