DISTINCTION. Kaj Blennow, Professor of Clinical Neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, ranks 17th worldwide among all researchers in neuroscience and 1st in Sweden. Behind the rankings is the company Research.com, which bases them on the Discipline H-index (D-index), which includes articles and citation data for the subject area.
How does it feel to receive this lofty accolade?
It’s a great thrill to be number 1 in Sweden now and as high up as number 17 in the world. It’s a recognition of my research and its relevance, too, since it’s cited a great deal. The citation count is, after all, a measure of how many times other researchers have considered the results fundamental for new knowledge or various conclusions. The D-index is more of an indication that it’s not just about a few articles being cited numerous times, but that there’s breadth involved, with an abundance of highly cited articles.
Internationally, the ranking of the best scholars in neuroscience is dominated by American and British researchers. Why do you think this is?
I don’t know, but it must of course reflect the fact that there’s a positive research climate in the U.S. and major grants are available, from government and other sources, to fund research in neuroscience. Another factor that may contribute is, naturally, that the U.S. has 30 times as many inhabitants as Sweden, and thus probably many times more researchers.
One scientist on the list that I used to know well is John Trojanowski, who ranks third in the world. At the University of Pennsylvania, he was engaged in clinical studies on molecular mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases and made outstandingly important discoveries about the proteins that play a crucial part in the pathological mechanisms of those diseases. I also know John Morris of Washington University in St. Louis, who ranks 13th and is a highly successful clinical Alzheimer’s researcher.
What gives you most satisfaction in your current work as an Alzheimer’s researcher?
Without doubt, it’s the fact there’s been such tremendous progress throughout the field that we’re now on the brink of major advances. One is having blood tests to screen patients who see a doctor for memory problems. A second is using diagnostic methods involving PET scans and fluid tests that enable reliable diagnoses. Third and not least, we’re seeing drugs that affect the central pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s by removing the amyloid plaques, while achieving a marked reduction in the clinical progression of symptoms. All this development is truly marvelous.
Your clinical neurochemistry lab is a world leader in terms of markers for Alzheimer’s in spinal fluid and in blood. What’s your vision for the future?
It’s to make these biomarkers accessible to our clinical colleagues and understand how to use them optimally to help the patients, but also to keep up our efforts to find and develop further methods. Then, through clinical biochemical studies, we’ll be able to understand the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders better.
BY: ELIN LINDSTRÖM
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