Dr. Geschwind earned his BA degree in chemistry (modified with psychology) at Dartmouth College in 1982. He subsequently entered the MD-PhD program at Yale University School of Medicine, earning his medical degree and doctoral degree in neurobiology in 1991. He completed a residency in neurology at UCLA and joined the faculty in 1997. His laboratory has pioneered the application of systems biology methods in neurologic and psychiatric disease, working in collaboration with dozens of other laboratories to connect molecular pathways to nervous system function. His work’s main goal is to develop new therapeutics for nervous system disorders for which disease-altering therapies are not currently available. In his capacity as senior associate dean and associate vice chancellor of Precision Health, he leads precision health and genomic medicine activities at UCLA.
Dr. Geschwind has published over 400 papers and serves on the editorial boards of Cell, Neuron, and Science. He has also received numerous awards, including the Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award from the ANA in 2004, the Scientific Service Award from Autism Speaks in 2007, the Ruane Prize from the Brain and Behavior Foundation in 2013, and the New Innovators Award from Amgen in 2018. His is an elected Member of the American Association of Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine.