Dr. Michael Arthur Moskowitz stands as a preeminent figure in neurological research and migraine pathophysiology, holding the distinguished position of Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942, he completed his undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at Johns Hopkins University before earning his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1968. Following extensive clinical training in internal medicine and neurology at Yale and Harvard Hospitals, he established his research career at Massachusetts General Hospital where he has maintained his primary laboratory for decades. His work has spanned multiple departments including Radiology, Neurosurgery and Neurology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his groundbreaking investigations. Dr. Moskowitz also served for twenty-five years as faculty and affiliate faculty at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, further cementing his role at the intersection of neuroscience and engineering.
Dr. Moskowitz pioneered the understanding of migraine pathophysiology through his seminal discovery of the trigeminovascular system, identifying sensory nerves to the circle of Willis within the meninges and coining the term that has become central to headache research. His laboratory was the first to demonstrate that vasoactive neuropeptides contained within trigeminal meningeal nerve fibers participate in migraine mechanisms, establishing a comprehensive road map that implicated trigeminal neuropeptides and their receptors as therapeutic targets. This foundational work revealed how classical antimigraine drugs such as ergots and triptans inhibit neuropeptide release, directly inspiring the development of novel pharmacological approaches that block neuropeptide release and inhibit meningeal inflammatory responses. His research identified spreading depression as an upstream trigger that activates the trigeminovascular system, providing a critical link between migraine aura and headache mechanisms. The direct impact of his research is evident in the more than twenty new drugs and biologicals now in clinical use that target the trigeminovascular system and its related pathways.
As a co-recipient of the prestigious Brain Prize in 2021, Dr. Moskowitz's contributions have been internationally recognized for fundamentally transforming the scientific understanding and clinical management of migraine disorders. His influence extends through his active mentorship of generations of neuroscientists and his service on numerous advisory boards and committees dedicated to advancing neurological research. The International Headache Society and other professional organizations have repeatedly honored his work, acknowledging how his discoveries have reshaped the field's conceptual framework for understanding headache disorders. Dr. Moskowitz continues to investigate upstream endogenous triggers of migraine, with his ongoing research focused on identifying additional mechanisms beyond spreading depression that activate the trigeminovascular system. His work promises further breakthroughs in understanding and treating this debilitating neurological condition, maintaining his position at the forefront of neurovascular research.
