What do you hope to accomplish at the centre?

We want to promote clinical and fundamental research in neurodegenerative disease as well as in public health. The core centre is in Bonn with other locations throughout the country. As director of the centre, I cannot micromanage individual projects, but I will decide the strategy and priority of the programmes together with the leaders of each individual location. Overall, I will be responsible for the centre's scientific delivery and more directly for the activities at the Bonn site, which also comprises the Cologne and Jülich locations.

Have you been interested in neurodegenerative disease for a long time?

When I was quite young, I was captivated by the idea of man on the Moon. The popular dream of most every child in the 1950s and 60s was to become an astrophysicist. But as we grow up, there are other influences. The father of a school friend was a doctor who treated patients with Parkinson's disease, and no one knew then what caused it or what genetic mutations were involved. I became fascinated, initially by stroke and, more recently, by the mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative disease and how the connections between neurons are affected.

What are the key findings of your research thus far?

I began formulating the reasons for cell death and clarified the mechanism that causes calcium to be lethal for cells, which led to discoveries of fundamental processes in cells.

Were you surprised to be offered this position?

I had heard that this centre was being created and that they were looking for a director, but it wasn't until late last year that the offer materialized from the German Ministry of Education and Research. I thought it was a unique opportunity because there is tremendous funding for research, up to €66 million (US$91 million) a year. Each site is already well recognized for excellent science, so the centre can count on a high-profile group of scientists.

What motivates you in your work?

There is a continuous challenge to cure human illness. When I go to bed I think, 'What did I do today? Did I help anyone to progress?' With neurodegenerative diseases, we ask, 'When will we have a new drug?' Developing new treatments takes a long time. The idea of progress — going forward and discovering new things, never standing still — is central for me.

Do you have a secret for scientific success?

What's the definition of success? Winning the Nobel Prize? Making a new medicine? It's difficult to say. I would propose that it depends on the degree of happiness and satisfaction the scientific work gives to an individual, and I am very happy in what I do.