Giampietro Schiavo is a senior group leader at Cancer Research UK. He has made major contributions to neurobiology and cell biology elucidating the mechanism of action of several bacterial toxins and revealing key steps in the regulation of axonal transport and its role in neurodegeneration. He demonstrated the molecular mechanism responsible for muscle paralysis seen in tetanus and botulism and elucidated key steps in neurotransmitter release. His research has been instrumental in demonstrating that an impairment of long-range communication in neurons caused by defects in axonal transport constitutes a major pathogenic mechanism in neurodegenerative disorders. Key concepts emerging from his research are now taught worldwide at undergraduate level.