Academic Biography

Zaven Khachaturian, PhD, is the President of Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease 2020 [PAS2020] Inc. www.pad2020.org. He is also a Senior Science Advisor to the Alzheimer’s Association; the Editor-in-Chief of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. He is generally acknowledged as the ‘Founder – Chief Architect’ of the extramural research programs on Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer supported by the National Institution on Aging (NIA) / National Institutes of Health [NIH]. Formerly he served the dual role of Director, Office of Alzheimer’s Disease, responsible for coordinating all Alzheimer’s disease related activities NIH-wide; as well as the Associate Director for the Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging Program (NNA) at the NIA/NIH. In these positions he was responsible for planning, developing and administering major national programs of research on Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging e.g., Alzheimer’s Centers, CERAD, ADCS, and other. Outside government he has served as: Vice President of Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center [UPMC]; Professor, Health Services Research, Gradual School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh; and Interim-Director for Pittsburg Biotechnology Center, University of Pittsburgh; Founding Director, Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute/Alzheimer’s Association; President & CEO, Lou Ruvo Brain Institute [now the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health]. His academic training includes: BA Yale 1961 / PhD Case-Western Reserve 1967 / Post-doctoral College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia 1967-1968. His career spans several major positions requiring high level strategic decision making regarding public policies and program development. His research and scholarly interests include:
neurobiology-neurophysiology of neuroplasticity-cognition / systems biology / calcium homeostasis – ‘Calcium Hypothesis’ / neurobiology of aging & dementia / public policy / politics of sciences / strategic planning & program development / research funding.