Title: Sr. Director of Neuroscience Research, Center for Memory & Aging
Joined the Institute: 1977
Education and training: PhD, biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
Overview/research interests: Intranasal delivery of therapeutics to treat and prevent brain damage from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, brain tumors and other brain disorders.
- Developed noninvasive, intranasal method for bypassing the blood-brain barrier to target central nervous system therapeutic agents to the brain and spinal cord while reducing system exposure and unwanted side effects
- Developed and patented intranasal insulin and showed that intranasal insulin improves memory in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
- Developed and patented method using intranasal insulin to treat and protect against traumatic brain injury
- Developed method using intranasal insulin to treat and protect against posttraumatic stress disorder
- Developed and patented intranasal deferoxamine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and other central nervous system disorders
- Developed and patented intranasal stem cells to bypass the blood-brain barrier and treat Parkinson’s disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous system disorders
- Leading expert in why humans uniquely evolved the ability to shed emotional tears in response to stress and the chemistry of emotional tears
- Research has been subject of articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and numerous other newspapers and magazines
- Interviewed on the Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, All Things Considered, the BBC and numerous other TV and radio programs around the world
Current research activities and funding: Intranasal delivery of therapeutics to treat and prevent brain damage from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress syndrome and other central nervous system disorders.
