Unorthodox Alzheimer's researcher Robert Moir dies at age 58

Robert Moir, an Alzheimer’s researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital known for his unorthodox approaches to studying the disease, died on Friday of glioblastoma. Moir, 58, explored links between microbial infections and Alzheimer’s, an approach that meant he often clashed with journal editors who were reluctant to publish papers outside mainstream Alzheimer’s research and also left him struggling for NIH funding. But Moir took such setbacks in stride: Growing up in rural Australia and not learning to read or write until age 12 meant his later research troubles were nothing compared to where life might have taken him. STAT’s Sharon Begley, who got to know Moir while profiling him, says, “Rob had no illusions about how science works, and knew that the best ideas don't always and immediately prevail. His own persistence should be a beacon to other young scientists.”