Undertaking translation-facing but fundamental cellular and molecular research in the field of neurodegeneration relies on considerable interdisciplinarity. I have been very privileged to work at UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, which are perfectly equipped for such research, with expertise in human post-mortem tissue samples, animal models, molecular biology and computational modelling. My inaugural lecture provided an ideal opportunity to thank the great many colleagues who have inspired me, the talented researchers I have had the privilege to work with in my research group and to showcase some of the key findings from my laboratory relating to cell type-specific pathomechanisms of ALS using human induced pluripotent stem cell models. I sincerely hope these advances in understanding fundamental causes of neurological disease at the molecular and cellular levels will ultimately be translated into actual benefit for our patients." Professor Rickie Patani (Professor of Human Stem Cells and Regenerative Neurology, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The Francis Crick Institute)