Paul J. Tesar

Paul J. Tesar is a Professor in the Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He directs the Institute for Glial Sciences and holds the Dr. Donald and Ruth Weber Goodman Professorship in Innovative Therapeutics. His research focuses on regenerative therapies for neurological disorders using pluripotent stem cells to model glial cell development and dysfunction. He co-founded Convelo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company partnered with Genentech, to translate lab discoveries into clinical therapies.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, Case Western Reserve University
• DPhil (PhD) in Developmental Biology, University of Oxford (NIH scholar)

Research Interests:

Dr. Tesar's lab investigates molecular mechanisms of glial cell development (oligodendrocytes/astrocytes), particularly in diseases like multiple sclerosis and Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease. They employ high-throughput screening to develop therapies targeting glial dysfunction. Recent breakthroughs include a therapy for PMD entering clinical trials (NCT06150716).

Awards Overview:

• Beddington Medal (2008)
• New York Stem Cell Foundation Robertson Stem Cell Prize (2017)
• NINDS Landis Mentorship Award (2021)
• Case Medal (2023)

Lab & Mentorship:

Trains researchers through immersive programs and was awarded NIH's top mentorship honor. Co-founded Rise Up: Northeast Ohio to improve STEM education in Cleveland schools. Active in lab leadership and clinical translation initiatives.