PhD
Dr. Hendrik (Harry) Wilhelm Maria Steinbusch is a distinguished Dutch neuroscientist and Professor Emeritus of Cellular and Translational Neuroscience at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Born in 1950 in Kerkrade, he earned his Ph.D. cum laude at the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1982 with a groundbreaking dissertation on serotonergic neurons in the rat brain. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dr. Steinbusch has made pioneering contributions to the understanding of brain development, neuroplasticity, aging, depression, and neurodegeneration. His work has particularly highlighted the link between early-life stress, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. He has supervised more than 107 Ph.D. students, authored over 615 scientific publications, and achieved a Hirsch index (h-index) of 110, with over 45,000 citations. His leadership extended far beyond research, having established and directed multiple international neuroscience programs and networks, including EURON, NENS, and MHeNS. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he has received several Lifetime Achievement Awards (Italy, South Korea, International Society for Serotonin Research) and was knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion (2018). He continues to be highly active in fostering global collaborations, mentoring young scientists, and advancing translational neuroscience research.
Research Focus:
Dr. Steinbusch’s work focuses on the neuroanatomical, pharmacological, physiological, and behavioral aspects of brain development, plasticity, aging, and neurodegeneration. His central research hypothesis is that stress during critical pre-, peri-, and postnatal periods may contribute to depression and act as an early trigger for neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer’s disease. His research particularly investigates the role of the brainstem in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology, using rodent models and human post-mortem brain studies.
Methodological Expertise:
He applies multidisciplinary approaches, including molecular neurobiology, neuromorphology, animal behavior, neuroimmunology, and epigenetics.
Leadership Roles:
Founding Director of the European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), a collaborative network of eleven universities across Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Director of the Maastricht Institute Brain & Behavior.
Founding and full Director of the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS) at Maastricht University (served for 13 years).
Chairman of the Steering Committee of NENS (Network of European Neuroscience Schools).
Coordinator of Marie Curie Early-Stage Training and Erasmus Mundus+ programs, strengthening international collaboration between Europe and Japan.
Coordinator of the China Scholarship Council PhD Program at Maastricht University, which has supported ~428 PhD students by 2024.
Editorial & Organizational Roles:
Founding and long-term Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy (since 1984).
Organizer of the BrightFocus Foundation–funded Alzheimer’s Fast Track Workshop for early-career scientists (since 1998).
Chairman of the IBRO Travel and Fellowships Programme.
Professional Memberships:
Active member of several international organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, European Neuroscience Association, International Serotonin Club, NECTAR, Dutch Society for Experimental and Clinical Neurochemistry, and the Cajal Club.
