Unlocking the secrets of life's smallest building blocks – inside our cells – could hold the key to stopping diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. For over two decades, Gunnar von Heijne at Stockholm University has been investigating how proteins, the molecules produced by cells, fold into their unique shapes – a seemingly small process that is vital for life. When proteins misfold, the consequences can be devastating, triggering serious diseases. His research has added crucial pieces to the puzzle in the search for new treatments and cures.