Advancing blood-based biomarkers for neurological disease

Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz, at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, has been awarded the Sahlgrenska Academy’s 2025 Thesis of the Year for his work in Clinical Neurochemistry in Mölndal. His research focuses on developing and validating blood-based tau biomarkers that reflect pathological processes in the brain and can be used across multiple neurological conditions.

Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz is the latest in a series of PhD candidates from the same research environment to receive the award—something he believes reflects the strength of that environment.

“There is world-leading expertise here in biomarkers and Alzheimer’s disease, along with strong international collaborations. It’s an environment that encourages you to think creatively and test your ideas,” says Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz.

His mentor, Kaj Blennow, played a key role during his formation.

“We had a way of working where I tend to challenge the core ideas, and that was encouraged. I received a great deal of support in developing my own ideas further,” Fernando says.

From internal medicine to neurology

Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz is a physician from in Mexico, with training and experience in multiple countries including  Scotland and Sweden. He has a background in internal medicine and now sees his broad clinical foundation as an asset in his research.

“Internal medicine is about understanding how the whole system fits together and avoiding tunnel vision. That has been extremely valuable when working with neurological diseases, where you need to place biomarkers in a broader context,” he says.

When he entered research, the biomarker field was new to him.

“At first, I didn’t really understand why everyone was so obsessed with tau and phosphorylated tau. But the more I worked with it, the clearer it became how unusual it is to have markers that so closely track the underlying disease processes and clinical symptoms. That’s what makes them so interesting,” he says.

Connecting research with clinical reality

During his PhD, he combined research with his clinical experience in the clinical neurochemistry department and in the memory clinic.

“Working clinically means you’re constantly connecting your findings to real patients and to the decisions that need to be made in healthcare,” he says.

His thesis, Pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical value of novel blood-based tau biomarkers, is based on seven articles in which Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz is first author, published in leading international journals. The work spans everything from the development of new assays to biological validation and clinical application in conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other neurological disorders.

A central contribution is the development of more brain-specific blood-based biomarkers, which have shown strong associations with pathological processes in the brain and can provide information on both diagnosis and disease course. The principles presented in his thesis have been taken by multiple groups and companies are now widely available

Emphasizes the limitations of biomarkers

At the same time, Fernando Gonzalez Ortiz underscores the importance of using biomarkers appropriately.

“It’s essential to understand both their strengths and their limitations. If biomarkers are used without a clear understanding of how to interpret them, there is a risk of misdiagnosis and of patients receiving treatments they do not need,” he says.

He describes receiving the award as a great honor.

“I’ve looked at the other theses that are being recognized, and they are very impressive. That makes it even more meaningful that my thesis was selected,” he says.

Aims to make advanced diagnostics more accessible

Looking ahead, he plans to continue combining research with clinical work. He is currently working on developing and applying biomarkers in additional contexts, as well as on questions related to making these methods more widely accessible.

“In my hometown in Mexico, the access to advanced biomarkers can vary widely between hospitals. In many places, diagnosis still relies heavily on clinical assessment, which can be uncertain,” he says.

“I would like to help ensure that these markers and methods become more widely available, even in settings with more limited resources.”

• Link to the thesis: Pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical value of novel blood-based tau biomarkers.