1983
Helped find the Huntington’s disease gene (with Dr. James F. Gusella) – the first disease gene to ever be found by genetic linkage analysis
Scientific founder
Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi
Spanning more than four decades of research and more than 800 published papers, Dr. Rudolph (Rudy) Tanzi’s discoveries have shaped our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and helped advance new approaches to therapeutic discovery and prevention.
Titles & appointments
Director, Genetics and Aging Research Unit
Director, McCance Center for Brain Health
Co-Director, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease
Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts General Hospital · Harvard Medical School
Explore Dr. Tanzi’s research profile
Review Dr. Tanzi’s full biography and publications.
A legacy of discovery
40+ years of breakthroughs
For more than four decades, Dr. Tanzi’s groundbreaking research has transformed how neurodegenerative diseases are understood and treated. From co-discovering all three genes associated with familial early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and co-inventing gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) as a new class of therapeutics to pioneering Alzheimer’s-in-a-Dish™, his accomplishments have established him as one of the world’s most influential neuroscientists. His work continues to shape the global pursuit of Alzheimer’s prevention, treatment, and a cure.
1987
Discovered the first early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease gene, the amyloid precursor protein (APP)
1988
Constructed the first complete genetic map of a human chromosome
1993
Provided the chromosome map that led to the first familial ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) gene (SOD-1)
1993
Discovered the gene responsible for the neurodegenerative disease causing Wilson’s disease
1994
Showed zinc and copper drive the formation of toxic amyloid in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease
1995
Co-discovered the second and third early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease genes – presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and presenilin 2 (PSEN2)
1996
On team that showed how the three early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease genes lead to toxic brain amyloid and Alzheimer’s disease
1998
Discovered the alpha-2 macroglobulin gene is associated with risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
1999
Reported the most common genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Apolipoprotein E- e4, drives the aggregation of toxic beta-amyloid
2000
Discovered genetic linkage of AD to chromosome 10 near the insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) gene
2003
Conducted the first whole human genome genetic linkage study of late-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease
2003
Reported the drug, clioquinol, blocks beta-amyloid formation and improves cognition in a phase 2 Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial
2005
Discovered the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) clears beta-amyloid
2005
Discovered human autoantibodies to beta-amyloid that inspired the amyloid immunotherapies later approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease
2005
Discovered the ubiquilin 1 gene is associated with risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
2006
Discovered the common inhalation anesthetic, isoflurane, increases brain levels of beta-amyloid that leads to Alzheimer’s disease
2007
Established widely used gene databases (AlzGene, PDGene, SZGene)
2008
Served on team that discovered one of the first autism genes
2008
Reported the first familial Alzheimer’s disease genome-wide association study that led to the discovery of the first Alzheimer’s disease gene that implicated microglial cells and neuroinflammation in the disease process – CD33
2009
Discovered the Alzheimer’s disease gene, ADAM10, with mutations that increase beta-amyloid production
2010
Discovered that the amyloid beta-protein serves as antimicrobial (host-defense) peptide in the brain leading to the Antimicrobial Protection Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease
2010
Discovered beta-amyloid in the lens of Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s patients
2010
Discovered the first potent gamma-secretase modulators (GSM) with Dr. Steve Wagner– now a clinical candidate slated for phase I clinical trials in 2025
2012
Discovered that the “bobble-head” effect in bomb blast leads to traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease pathology (with Dr. Lee Goldstein)
2013
Discovered CD33 controls beta-amyloid clearance and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, making it a drug target
2014
Invented Alzheimer’s-in-a-Dish™, the first 3D human stem cell-derived neural culture AD model that fully recreates Alzheimer’s pathology and provides proof of concept that beta-amyloid causes tau tangles
2016
Showed amyloid-beta protein can protect against infection by bacteria and fungus
2016
Showed with Dr. Sam Sisodia that the gut microbiome can be modified to clear brain beta-amyloid in mice
2017
Reported with Dr. Steve Wagner a highly potent gamma secretase that can lower the production of toxic Ab42 in the brain
2018
Showed amyloid-beta protein can protect against herpes virus 1 (HSV1) infection
2018
Reported exercise can restore cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease mice and be mimicked with pharmacological treatments
2019
Created the first 3D human cell culture blood brain barrier model of Alzheimer’s disease pathology
2019
Showed the gene responsible for cerebellar ataxia (ATXN1) controls amyloid production in Alzheimer’s disease
2019
Demonstrated that the two Alzheimer’s CD33 and TREM2 have opposite effects on the clearance of brain amyloid and neuroinflammation
2020
Showed that cluster (oligomer) amyloid beta-protein directly induces tangle pathology in Alzheimer’s disease
2020
Reported with Amylyx that the drug Relyvrio™ improves symptoms of ALS in phase 2 clinical trial, leading to subsequent approval
2021
Discovered over a dozen new Alzheimer’s disease genes involved with synaptic function, using whole genome sequencing
2021
Discovered with Dr. Filip Swirski that interleukin-3 could be used to reprogram microglia to clear beta-amyloid and reduce neuroinflammation
2022
Co-founded Acta Pharmaceuticals with the mission of Empowering Minds and Ending Alzheimer’s via development of drug therapies and natural supplements
2022
Used whole-genome sequencing to discover two new genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease
2022
Discovered a plasma cytokine biomarker profile that predicts cognitive trajectories in cognitively normal older adults
2023
With Dr. Can Zhang, developed HDAC6 inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
2023
With Dr. Amy Proal, showed that COVID can persist in body in specific organ reservoirs post-infection
2023
Developed the McCance Center Brain Care Score™ with Dr. Jonathan Rosand
2023
Demonstrated the role of T cells in exacerbating Alzheimer’s disease pathology
2023
Demonstrated the role of mast cells in exacerbating Alzheimer’s disease pathology
2023
Showed that the muscle hormone, irisin, released during exercise, can trigger the enzymatic breakdown of beta-amyloid in the brain
2023
Identified known FDA-approved drugs and natural products that can reduce Alzheimer’s pathology – beta-amyloid and neuroinflammation
2024
Collaborated with Dr. Sam Sisodia and David Holtzman to show that the seaweed derived drug, GV-791 induces clearance of brain beta-amyloid
2024
Published a clinical trial showing sodium phenylbutyrate plus taurursodiol reduces spinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s pathology
2024
Developed the first poly-omic risk score to predict Alzheimer’s disease
2025
Discovered 16 new Alzheimer’s disease genes by studying diverse and multi-ethnic populations
2025
Published a clinical trial showing nicotinamide riboside (Niagen) reduces a blood biomarker (pTau-217) for Alzheimer’s plaques and tangles
SHIELD Your Brain Starting Today
The SHIELD Plan, developed by Dr. Tanzi, is a great way to remember how to take care of your brain now. If you can improve your brain health today, you’ll reduce your risk for brain disease in the future.
