Sebastian Brandner is Professor of Neuropathology at University College London. He started his research on prion disease discovering that prions are toxic to nerve cells but only when these express the normal PrP isoform. In the field of neurodegenerative research, he conducted several studies to screen the prevalence for the presence of vCJD prions in the UK. These findings had important implications for the management of blood and blood products and for the handling of surgical instruments. Professor Brandner’s department serves a population of 6 million, and his molecular pathology services are comprehensive and innovative and are at the forefront in the United Kingdom.