Harry Steinbusch, BSc MSc PhD

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

Maastricht University

ORCID URL: 

https://www.j-alz.com/0000-0002-7667-0604

Areas of Interest: 

chemical neuroanatomy, AD, depression

Biography & Research: 

Dr. Harry W.M. Steinbusch is a distinguished neuroscientist and Professor Emeritus Professor in Cellular and Translational Neuroscience at Maastricht University in Maastricht, the Netherlands, renowned for his extensive contributions to the fields of neuroanatomy, neurodevelopment, and neurodegeneration. Research Focus: Dr. Steinbusch's research centers on the neuroanatomical aspects of brain development and aging, utilizing both rodent models and post-mortem human brain studies. A central hypothesis of his work is that stress experienced during pre-, peri-, or postnatal periods can lead to depression, which may serve as an early initiator of neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). His investigations particularly emphasize the role of the brainstem in the early pathophysiology of AD and explore the relationship between depression and AD. To explore these complex interactions, Dr. Steinbusch employs a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating techniques from molecular neurobiology, quantitative neuromorphology, animal behavior studies, and epigenetics. Academic Contributions and Leadership: Throughout his career, Dr. Steinbusch has supervised 107 Ph.D. students and authored over 615 scientific publications. He has played pivotal roles in several academic initiatives, including serving as the Founding Director of the European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON) and the Network of European Neuroscience Schools (NENS). Additionally, he has coordinated programs such as the Marie Curie Early-Stage Training and the Erasmus Mundus+ program, fostering international collaboration in neuroscience research. Dr. Steinbusch is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, a position he has held since 1984. He is co-organizer of the Bright Focus Foundation funded Alzheimer Fast Track Annual 3 days’ workshop for young career scientists since 1998. He has been President-Elect of the Neurotoxicity Society. Founding and Full Director of the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience at Maastricht University for 13 years. He has been twice coordinating a Marie Curie Early-Stage Training site and coordinator of an Erasmus Mundus + program between 4 European and 3 Japanese Universities. He is active Fellow of the Indian Academy for Neuroscience. He has been Coordinator of the China Scholarship Council PhD Program at UM comprising close to 428 PhD students as of 2024. Honors and Recognition: In recognition of his significant contributions to neuroscience, Dr. Steinbusch was knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion in 2018. He has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Italian Neuroscience Society (2017), the South Korean Neuroscience Society (2018), and the International Society for Serotonin Research (2018). His current Hirsch factor is 110, citations without self-citations 45,916, from 2018: 12,538 and M-factor is 2.4. Best Neuroscience Scientists 2023: World place 510, the Netherlands place 10.