From a background in medicine, David Rubinsztein became Professor of Molecular Neurogenetics at the University of Cambridge in 2005. Obtaining his PhD from the University of Cape Town, he went on to lead the way in research of autophagy in neurodegenerative disease, with his lab discovering its role in intracytoplasmic aggregate-prone proteins. Author of more than 300 scientific papers, he has received numerous awards, including the Thudichum Medal (Biochemical Society) for outstanding contributions to neuroscience, the Roger de Spoelberch Prize, membership of EMBO, and fellowships of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences.