Brendan Kelley

Brendan Kelley, M.D., is the Clinical Vice-Chair of the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center and holds the rank of Clinical Professor. He joined UT Southwestern in 2017, bringing expertise in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry. Dr. Kelley’s clinical focus is on memory and cognitive disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and dementias. He directs the Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship program, emphasizing education for trainees. His research translates novel techniques for diagnosing neurodegeneration and testing therapies for dementia, collaborating with labs and clinical trials nationwide.

Education: He earned an MD from The Ohio State University, an Executive MBA from Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business, and a Master’s in Physics from Cornell University. Residency at Cleveland Clinic and fellowships at Mayo Clinic and Ohio State University shaped his career. He previously held the Bob and Sandy Heimann Chair for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Education at the University of Cincinnati.

Research Interests: Clinical translation of biomarkers (e.g., Tau PET imaging, CSF analysis), neuroimaging, and drug trials for neurodegenerative diseases. Collaborations span basic science and clinical domains to detect early-stage changes in Alzheimer’s and related conditions.

Articles Trends: Focus on Alzheimer’s biomarkers, polygenic risk scores, neuroinflammation, and clinical trial methodologies. Recent work explores plasma and CSF biomarkers for early diagnosis.

Awards: Bob and Sandy Heimann Chair for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Education (2008–2013).

Grants/Advising: Leads clinical trials and collaborates on NIH-funded research. Advises trainees in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry, fostering the next generation of dementia specialists.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with the Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Section at UT Southwestern, advancing interdisciplinary research and care for neurodegenerative diseases.