BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cerevance, a drug discovery and development company focused on brain diseases, today announced that Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D., has joined the company as a senior-level scientific advisor. Dr. Tanzi is the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard University and Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Tanzi has published roughly 500 scientific papers, including the top three most cited papers in the field of Alzheimer's disease research. He co-discovered all three familial early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) genes and several other neurological disease genes, including the gene responsible for Wilson’s disease. As the leader of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund Alzheimer’s Genome Project, Dr. Tanzi has carried out multiple genome wide association studies of thousands of Alzheimer’s families leading to the identification of novel AD candidate genes, including CD33 and the first two rare mutations causing late-onset AD in the ADAM10 gene. His research on the role of zinc and copper in AD has led to clinical trials at Prana Biotechnology. He is also working with Steve Wagner of UCSD on gamma secretase modulators for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's.

“We look forward to drawing on Dr. Tanzi’s insights as we apply our novel technology to central nervous system diseases,” said Mark Carlton, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Cerevance. “His unique expertise in the links between human genetic variation and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the impacted biological pathways, will help us immensely as we select targets and advance new therapeutics.”

“I’m excited to advise Cerevance’s leadership as they build a great neuroscience company and harness their unique technology to molecularly profile specific neuronal populations in human tissue,” said Dr. Tanzi. “Brain diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, would certainly benefit from the discovery of new targets.”

Dr. Tanzi has also co-authored several books and received numerous awards, including the two highest awards for Alzheimer's disease research: The Metropolitan Life Award and The Potamkin Prize. He was included on the list of the "Harvard 100 Most Influential Alumni," and was chosen by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation as a “Rock Star of Science.” In 2015, he was named by TIME magazine to the “TIME100 Most Influential People in the World” list. Also in 2015, he and Dr. Doo Yeon Kim received the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award, the nation's highest award for invention and innovation, for their invention of “Alzheimer’s-in-a-Dish.” He also received the Silver Innovator Award.

About Cerevance

Cerevance is a recently formed pharmaceutical company focused on central nervous system diseases. The company’s strengths include a powerful technology platform, a pipeline of novel discovery-stage and clinical-stage compounds and a proven team. Its scientists believe that they are well positioned to deliver life-changing therapeutics for patients who have brain-related disorders.