Markus Rüegg


Markus Rüegg is a Swiss neurobiologist and professor at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel.

Life

Markus Rüegg studied biochemistry at the University of Zurich and graduated with a PhD in the field of Neurobiology. In 1989 he went as a postdoctoral fellow to conduct research at the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. In 1992 he was appointed as Assistant Professor to the Biozentrum, University of Basel. Since 1998 he is a Professor of Neurobiology and teaches and conducts research at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel.

Work

Rüegg studies the molecular processes important for the formation and function of the neuromuscular system. A major part of his investigations involve the characterization of the extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways. Markus Rüegg has successfully developed new approaches for the therapy of merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy, a serious genetic disease. In addition, his research group has recently demonstrated that the multi-protein complex mTORC1 is an important regulator of muscle growth and autophagy, a cellular self-cleaning process. These findings may help to counteract pathological muscle degradation and to develop new therapy strategies.

Awards and honors

Full publication list