The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has appointed internationally renowned neuroscientist Leonard Petrucelli, Ph.D., as the founding director of its newly established Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Petrucelli, who also joins the Department of Neurology as a professor, brings with him a distinguished record of scientific discovery and an unwavering commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Most recently the Chair of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic in Florida, Dr. Petrucelli has focused his career on deciphering the molecular mechanisms underpinning Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – work that has uncovered novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets instrumental to shaping the future of treatment development.
Dr. Petrucelli’s appointment represents a meaningful homecoming. He began his academic journey in Miami, FL, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Barry University and later completed his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biochemistry at Loyola University and the Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Petrucelli has secured an impressive portfolio of foundation and National Institutes of Health funding, including a prestigious R35 Outstanding Investigator Award and leadership of the ALLFTD2 (Advancing Research and Treatment for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration) initiative, underscoring the national impact and sustained support of his research program.
