Ten questions with Professor Tilo Kunath

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1. What does innovation mean to you?

Everything from major paradigm shifts to minor tweaks to make something awesome

2. What is your greatest failure?

My kids would say it is falling down a muddy slope and getting covered in mud – they keep re-telling the story at any opportunity.

3. What is your greatest success?

Balancing family, research, and career.  

4. What is your greatest fear?

Running out of time.

5. What is your favourite book?

As a young man I really loved Anna Karenina – I still get a heavy feeling when I think about this book. I mostly read non-fiction now, and my favourite book in the last 10 years has been Trilobite! by Richard Fortey…playful and very enthusiastic science writing.

6. What would your friends say your greatest strengths and weaknesses are?

My friends might say that my greatest strength is a keen interest and enthusiasm for a diverse array of things…my mentors have said I’m interested in too many things, and that I should focus more!

7. What is the most important thing to you?

Our three boys and life partner – no doubt.

8. Is there any advice you wish someone had given you?

I took a lot of advice when I was starting out, and I’m very grateful for the amazing teachers I have had. I do wish that someone insisted I buy up some BitCoin five years ago!

9. What future innovation would you like to see happen in your lifetime?

Two things. I would like to see a cell therapy for Parkinson’s that repairs the brain and reverses many of the symptoms. And I’m currently obsessed with early and accurate detection of Parkinson’s. I’m convinced this will be a game-changer, and it will be key to cracking this condition.  

10. What is your greatest hope?

To witness a cure for Parkinson’s and a massive decline in its incidence.