Alexander Drzezga joins the Leopoldina

1 October 2026

Professor Alexander Drzezga has become a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. He heads Molecular Organization of the Brain (INM-2) at Forschungszentrum Jülich’s Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine. He is also Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at University Hospital Cologne.

What changes occur in the brain long before a disease becomes clearly apparent? Drzezga and his team investigate this question by studying how changes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s develop over many years. They aim to understand which biological processes are linked to the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities, and how these changes can be detected as early as possible.

Another focus is on how the brain ages healthily, how it adapts to changing conditions — a capacity known as plasticity — and which mechanisms help it counteract disease.

To explore these questions, the researchers combine different brain imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tracer substances labelled with small amounts of radioactive material, known as radiotracers, can reveal specific processes and changes in the brain at an early stage and with high sensitivity. Combining these images with other measurement data helps researchers link changes in individual brain regions to their consequences.

Artificial intelligence also plays a role in this research. It helps analyse large volumes of imaging data and identify patterns, making it particularly useful for investigating the highly complex processes that occur in the brain.

Drzezga’s research also extends beyond the brain. In cancer medicine, for example, his team develops and evaluates nuclear medicine techniques for an approach known as theranostics. This directly combines disease detection (diagnosis) with targeted, individually tailored treatment.

Drzezga is internationally recognised as an expert in nuclear medicine and has received several awards for his work. His research aims to help better understand and preserve healthy function, detect diseases earlier and tailor treatments more closely to individual patients.

Prof. Alexander Drzezga on the Leopoldina website