Prof. Dr. Johannes Levin

Keywords: Parkinson, Alzheimer, Atypical Parkinsonism, Biomarker, Therapy development

Brief research description: I lead the neurodegenerative diseases group of the Department of Neurology at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). I have been working in the field of movement disorders for more than 15 years. My principal research focus is the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, especially on protein aggregation and therapy development targeting protein aggregation. In this context I have a track record for coordinating academic research studies including investigator initiated trials and long standing experience in conducting industry sponsored trials. Moreover, I am a principal investigator in several international studies and in international cohort studies such as the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN) and the Genetic Fronto-temporal dementia Initiative (GENFI). So far, my research also contributed to the definition of the natural history, environmental factors, and symptomatic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Current GSN students:

Selected publications:

1. Levin J et al., Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the oligomer modulator anle138b with exposure levels sufficient for therapeutic efficacy in a murine Parkinson model: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1a trial. EBioMedicine. 2022 Jun;80:104021.

2. Vöglein J, ..., Levin J. Pattern and implications of neurological examination findings in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 May 24:10.1002/alz.12684.

3. Barthélemy NR, …, Levin J, …, McDade E; Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network. A soluble phosphorylated tau signature links tau, amyloid and the evolution of stages of dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. Nature Medicine. 2020; 26(3): 398-407.

4. Levin J et al., Efficacy and safety of epigallocatechin gallate for multiple system atrophy (PROMESA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurology, 2019; 18:724-735.

5. Levin J, Schmidt F, Boehm C, Prix C, Bötzel K, Ryazanov S, Leonov A, Griesinger C, Giese A. The oligomer modulator anle138b inhibits disease progression in a Parkinson mouse model even with treatment started after disease onset. Acta Neuropathol. 2014 May;127(5):779-80. doi: 10.1007/s00401-014-1265-3.