Gerhard (Gerry) Coetzee, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science; Director, MiND NeuroGenomes Project
Areas of Expertise
Genetics, complex diseases, prostate cancer, breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, transcription, chromatin
Biography
Dr. Coetzee has more than 35 years of experience in molecular biology and human genetics. He earned a B.Sc. in chemistry/physiology and a B.Sc. (hon) in biochemistry from South Africa’s University of Potchefstroom, followed by an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in medical biochemistry from the University of Stellenbosch. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Hadassah University Hospital in Israel, and then served as a lecturer at University of Cape Town in South Africa, where he later became an associate professor. In 1986, he moved to University of Southern California as a visiting scientist and, in 2008, was named a professor of urology, molecular microbiology and immunology, and preventive medicine at USC’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2008. He also served as assistant dean of research integrity from 2014 to 2015. Dr. Coetzee joined Van Andel Institute in November 2015 as a professor in the Department of Neurodegenerative Science.