Rudolph E. Tanzi
Rudolph E. Tanzi is a world-renowned doctor, distinguished professor of neurology, and acclaimed author whose career has focused on combating disease through groundbreaking research. He is currently the Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard University. Tanzi has developed groundbreaking therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders, authored over 450 scientific research papers, and written eleven books.
Tanzi graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University in 1981 and then attended Harvard Medical School, earning his doctorate in 1987. From 1987 to 1991, he trained in neurology at the University of California, San Diego and Massachusetts General Hospital, and then returned to the Harvard Medical School in 1991 as the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology. From 1991 to 2017, he directed the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at MGH and from 2012 to 2017 he also held the position of Vice-Chair of Neurology at MGH. In addition, he is an affiliate of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University and an adjunct professor at MIT’s Broad Institute.
Tanzi’s main research contribution to medicine is his early development of the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium, which was responsible for the majority of significant breakthroughs in the understanding the genetic etiology of the disease. Tanzi’s research on the genetic basis of Alzheimer’s disease has provided the foundation upon which subsequent treatments have been built and has significantly reshaped the field of Alzheimer’s research. In addition, Tanzi has made a number of discoveries around the genetics of migraine, autism, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. His work has also led to the identification of novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease that are used in clinical trials.
Tanzi has authored hundreds of scientific research papers and eleven books. He is the author of Super Brain (co-authored with Deepak Chopra, M.D.) and The Healing Self (co-authored with Dr. Chopra). Super Brain examines the science behind the power of the mind-body connection and other ways to boost your brain function and maximize the potential for human flourishing. The Healing Self, which focuses on the mind-body-soul connection and explores the idea of self-healing, was a New York Times bestseller. In addition, he has written several groundbreaking books featuring cutting-edge research such as The Neurogenesis Diet, Mastering Alzheimer's, and Whole Body Autophagy.
Throughout his career, Tanzi has been honored with numerous awards and accolades. In 2013, he was appointed to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues by President Barack Obama. The following year, he was a U.S. science envoy to India and was awarded the 2014 National Leadership Award from the Society for Neuroscience, the biggest association of neuroscientists in the world. He has also been a leading participant in the “Quest for Cure” project and received the 2017 “Architect of Change” from the Dalai Lama.
Tanzi’s work to improve the human condition through science, research and education continues to inspire many. He dedicates his life to the advancement of his fields of study and to the continuing discovery of biomarkers to help diagnose and treat neurological diseases. He shares his research and expertise freely and continues to make important discoveries in the field of neurology.
