Theo Wallimann
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Theo Wallimann, PhD, was a research group leader and titular-professor at the Institute of Cell Biology of the ETH Zurich.
Born October 13, 1946 in Alpnach, Switzerland, he completed his dissertation at the Biology Department at ETH Zurich in 1975 with distinction and was awarded the ETH price and medal.
From 1975-1981, he worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Prof. A.G. Szent-Györgyi at the biology department of Brandeis University in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on the subject of "myosin-linked calcium regulation of muscle contraction". In 1981, he was appointed by Professor H.M. Eppenberger as senior assistant at the Institute of Cell Biology of the ETH Zurich to work in the areas of muscle biochemistry and molecular physiology of creatine kinases for cellular bioenergetics.
In 1984, he became a lecturer (with Habilitation) and in 1994, a professor. Wallimann was head of the Institute of Cell Biology in 1995. He received the Alfred Vogt Price 2005. Wallimann retired in May 2008 and is now an emeritus.
His main areas of interest are : - The structure, function, subcellular compartmentation and molecular physiology of Creatine Kinase (CK) creatine kinase isoenzymes and the Creatine Transporter (CRT), and in general, micro-compartmentation and metabolite channeling by multi-enzyme complexes. - The mechanisms of the cell enhancing and neuro-protective effects of Creatine Supplementation (creatine supplements) in health (muscle strength, learning and memory) and disease (neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative disorders). - The structure and molecular physiology of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), involved in cellular energy homeostasis and nutritional signalling, which is relevant for type-2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer.
