Ben Ryskeldi-Falcon

Benjamin Ryskeldi-Falcon is a Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, UK. His team combines structural and cell biological approaches to investigate the molecular mechanisms of pathological protein assembly responsible for motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and frontotemporal dementias.

Benjamin's group have revealed that TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) forms distinct amyloid filament structures in different diseases and has discovered previously unknown pathological assemblies, including amyloid filaments of TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 (TAF15) and heteromeric filaments of TDP-43 and annexin A11. These findings have transformed our understanding of the molecular basis of several neurodegenerative diseases and introduce new targets for diagnosis and therapy.

Benjamin obtained his BSc in Human Genetics from University College London. He completed his graduate research with Michel Goedert at the LMB, receiving a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Cambridge. During this time, he investigated molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the prion-like propagation of tau pathology in neurodegenerative diseases. Benjamin subsequently carried out a postdoc with Michel Goedert and Sjors Scheres at the LMB, where he helped to determine the first structures of pathological protein assemblies in neurodegenerative diseases using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM).

Benjamin established his independent research group at the LMB in 2019. Benjamin is a Young Investigator at the European Molecular Biology Organisation and a Co-investigator at the UK Dementia Research Institute. For his research, Benjamin has received the Alzheimer’s Research UK Rising Star Award, the Breuer Foundation Alzheimer’s Research Award, the SCOR Young European Researcher Prize, the Vallee Scholar Award and the Biochemical Society Colworth Medal.