David S. Russell

David S. Russell, MD, PhD is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine with primary appointments in Psychiatry and secondary appointments in Neurology. He serves as Senior Medical Director at Perceptive New Haven Clinic, a 100% research-dedicated clinical research facility focused on diseases with major unmet needs. Dr. Russell is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders, dementias, and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr. Russell earned his BA in Biology from Oberlin College (1982), followed by MD and PhD degrees from Cornell University (1991). He completed his internship (1992) and served as Chief Resident in Neurology at Yale-New Haven Hospital (1995).

His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, with emphasis on biomarker development, neuroimaging techniques (especially PET imaging), and clinical translation of novel therapeutics. Dr. Russell has made significant contributions to the development and validation of tau and alpha-synuclein imaging agents, as well as research on O-GlcNAcase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease treatment. His work bridges academic medicine and pharmaceutical development, with numerous publications on diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative conditions.

Analysis of his recent publications (2020-2025) reveals a strong emphasis on molecular imaging techniques for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly PET imaging of tau and alpha-synuclein pathology. His work spans basic biomarker validation, head-to-head comparisons of imaging agents, and clinical translation of novel therapeutics targeting neurodegenerative pathways. A significant portion of his research focuses on differentiating between various tauopathies and synucleinopathies through advanced imaging techniques.

Dr. Russell leads the Perceptive New Haven Clinic, a dedicated clinical research facility focused on neurodegenerative disorders. His work involves close collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers to advance understanding and treatment of movement disorders and dementias.