Dr. Daniel Geschwind stands as a preeminent leader in neurogenetics and brain disorders research, holding the distinguished position of Gordon and Virginia MacDonald Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics, Neurology and Psychiatry at UCLA. He serves as Senior Associate Dean and Associate Vice Chancellor of Precision Health at UCLA, where he leads the Institute for Precision Health and oversees campus-wide precision health initiatives. Building upon his foundational education with an A.B. in chemistry modified with psychology from Dartmouth College and an MD/PhD in neurobiology from Yale School of Medicine under Susan Hockfield, Dr. Geschwind completed his neurological training at UCLA. His career trajectory includes establishing the UCLA Neurogenetics Program in 1997 and co-founding the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment, solidifying his reputation as a transformative figure in translational neuroscience.
Dr. Geschwind's laboratory pioneered the application of systems biology methods to understand neurologic and psychiatric diseases, demonstrating that gene co-expression exhibits a reproducible network structure crucial for understanding neurobiological mechanisms in health and disease. His groundbreaking work led the first studies to define the molecular pathology of autism spectrum disorder and other major psychiatric conditions, making seminal contributions to deciphering the genetic basis of autism. His research has revealed how three-dimensional chromatin structure influences the functional impact of human genetic variation in neurological disorders, while also demonstrating the utility of gene network approaches to discover novel pathways in neurodegeneration and neural regeneration. With an exceptionally high H-index exceeding 195 and recognition as one of the world's most highly cited scientists in neurology, neuroscience, and genetics, his scientific impact has been transformative across multiple disciplines.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Geschwind has trained over seventy graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows, shaping the next generation of neuroscientists and maintaining his position among the most influential educators in his field. His leadership extends to prestigious editorial roles on the boards of Cell, Neuron, and the journal Science alongside service on the NIMH Advisory Council NIH Council of Councils and Scientific Advisory Board for the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Recognized with numerous honors including the Sarnat Award for research in mental health from the National Academy of Medicine the Society of Biological Psychiatry's Gold Medal Award and the American Academy of Neurology's Cotzias Lecture and Award he has been a member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2011. Currently focused on developing more mechanistic understandings of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases through integrative analyses connecting human genetic variation to neurobiological pathways Dr. Geschwind continues to advance the field toward more rational and effective therapeutics for challenging brain disorders.
