Theo Wallimann

In 1975, Theo Wallimann completed his Ph.D. Dissertation on “M-line-bound Creatine Kinase and Myofibrillar Structure” [3] in the laboratory of Prof. Hans M. Eppenberger at the Institute of Cell Biology at ETH Zurich with distinction and received the ETH prize and medal.[4]

From 1975 - 1981, Wallimann worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Andrew G. Szent-Györgyi ,[5] at the Biology Department of Brandeis University in Waltham, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on the subject of "Myosin-linked calcium regulation of muscle contraction".[6] After rejoining the Biology Dept of the ETH-Zurich in 1981, Wallimann became a Lecturer in 1984 with his Habilitation on: "Localization and function of M-line-bound creatine kinase: M-band model and Phospho-Creatine Shuttle"[7]). In 1994, Wallimann was awarded the title of Professor and in the next two years he became Head and Deputy Head of the Institute of Cell Biology. Wallimann was also awarded with Alfred-Vogt-Prize 2005.[8] Wallimann resigned from his post in June 2008 and is now Emeritus and member of the ETH Alumni organisation.[9]

Wallimann's main areas of interest are:

• The structure, function, subcellular compartmentation and molecular physiology of creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes and the Creatine Transporter (CRT), and in general, micro-compartmentation and metabolite channeling by multi-enzyme complexes.,.[10][11]
• The mechanisms of the cell enhancing and neuro-protective effects of creatine supplementation in health (muscle strength, learning and memory) and disease (neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative disorders).[12]
• The structure and molecular physiology of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK),[13][14] involved in cellular energy homeostasis and nutritional signalling, which is relevant for type-2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer.(for publications in PubMed see: [15]and on Publon see [16]).