Professor Ralph Martins, AO is a globally renowned figure in Alzheimer’s disease research.
Tireless dedication over decades of research has established Professor Martins as an eminent figure in the ongoing battle against Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Ralph Martins’ expertise and insights into the complexities of this disease have yielded a series of breakthroughs that have significantly advanced the understanding of Alzheimer’s globally.
Professor Martins has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research since the 1980s, pushing the boundaries of knowledge in the field. From his early work with Professor Colin Masters, AO isolating the beta-amyloid protein, through to his collaboration with Professor Sam Gandy on links between testosterone and Alzheimer’s disease, Professor Martins has been at the forefront of Alzheimer’s discoveries.
Professor Ralph Martins, AO
Ongoing developments
Professor Martins’ work has not only expanded comprehension of the disease but has also opened up new avenues for potential treatments and preventive strategies. Specifically, his work is helping in the ongoing development of non-invasive, cost-effective early diagnostic tools for pre-clinical Alzheimer’s — a critical advancement in the field.
One of Professor Martins’ significant discoveries involves identifying Alzheimer’s-related blood-based proteins. This breakthrough offers the potential for a low-cost blood test for early detection, bringing us one step closer to a world without Alzheimer’s.
Today, Professor Martins leads Alzheimer’s Research Australia through a comprehensive Research Framework, focusing on mitigating the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease.
The road to a cure
Key contributions
Professor Ralph Martins, AO is a globally renowned figure in Alzheimer’s disease research.
The road to a cure
Key contributions
Professor Ralph Martins, AO is a globally renowned figure in Alzheimer’s disease research.
01.
Beta-amyloid protein
Seminal discovery of the beta-amyloid protein in brains of Alzheimer’s patients which is now widely recognised as being fundamental to the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
02.
Oxidative stress
Seminal discovery that the Alzheimer’s disease brain is undergoing oxidative stress, which is now recognised as a key event in the neurodegenerative process that occurs in the Alzheimer’s disease brain.
Translational effect – Targeting beta-amyloid and oxidative stress is now the central focus of Clinical Trials into prevention and treatment and are some of the main targets of the global pharmaceutical industry.
03.
Testosterone & Lutenizing hormone
Discovery that testosterone and its stimulating hormone, Lutenizing hormone, have key roles in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis by regulating beta amyloid levels.
Translational effect – This research has translated to undertaking human clinical trials to assess the benefits of testosterone in slowing the progression of beta amyloid accumulation in the brain.
04.
Role of APOE ε4
Identifying the role of APOE ε4, the major genetic risk factor of Alzheimer’s in the Australian population.
Prof Martins’ team was the first in Australia to show that APOE ε4 is associated with about 50% of late-onset AD cases and that the amount of APOE ε4 produced also impacts the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
05.
Over-production of Aβ
The discovery that the over-production of Aβ and the impaired clearance of this toxic protein from the brain plays a key role in its accumulation in the Alzheimer’s disease brain and the resulting neurodegeneration.
Meet the professor
Finding a cure for Alzheimer’s has been my work for over thirty years. As a junior researcher, I made the decision to move into Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research after my father-in-law was affected.
However, years later I had another personal confrontation with the disease. Nothing could prepare me for the impact of experiencing the effect of the disease on someone with whom I had shared a lifetime of memories — my own father.
I started to notice my father just wasn’t as sharp as he once was. I didn’t read too much into it at first. I told myself, “He still has some really good days.”
Months later, I realised that this was something that no one could control. Diagnosing my father’s illness was a complicated process and a confusing time which involved navigating a system of tests and doctors to get a meaningful diagnosis.
I remember my father as a vibrant outgoing person. I remember his strongly positive attitude, no matter the challenge.
Over time, he had become a mere shadow of his former self, and I had to remind him of all the wonderful advice and encouragement he had given to me, and to his family. These experiences are the final memories that I have of my Dad, someone I loved dearly.
– Ralph Martins
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division for his contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research (2013)
- Member of the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem (KSJ) for his dedication to Alzheimer’s disease research, that aims to aid people around the world (2013)
- Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club in recognition of his contribution to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation (2011)
- Melvin Jones Award from Lions Club International Foundation USA for his outstanding contributions to the community and humanity (2010)
- Western Australian of the Year for his contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research (2010)
- Western Australian Citizen of the Year for his contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research (2011)
- A H-index of 94, a critical metric in research, measures a scholar’s productivity and impact.
- 36,290 citations. This count is a measure of the impact and influence of the work. In academia, a high number of citations is generally considered a positive indicator because it suggests that the work has been widely recognized, used, and built upon by other researchers.
- More than 500 publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
*Source: Scopus
- Supervised and co-supervised more than 60 higher-degree research students to successful completion
- Has employed more than 25 postdoctoral fellows
Professor Martins and his researchers have collaborated with more than 200 institutes and universities across the globe.
Alzheimer’s is a global health challenge that affects millions of individuals and their families. It is a complex and multifaceted condition, to which researchers from various backgrounds and expertise can provide diverse insights and perspectives.
Sharing research findings and data across borders promotes faster progress. Researchers can disseminate their discoveries and build on each other’s work, accelerating the development of potential treatments and interventions. By collaborating, they can pool their knowledge and resources to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the disease.
Collaborative research allows for the development of interventions that are more likely to be effective across diverse populations, ensuring that the benefits of research extend worldwide.
Research
Our excellence in research is at the forefront of the global fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
