Harris A. Gelbard

Harris A. Gelbard is a Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, Neuroscience, and Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He serves as Director of the Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery (CND), focused on understanding HIV-1’s impact on cognitive functions through microglia-synaptic network interactions. His work integrates virology, immunology, and neuroscience to address neurodegenerative mechanisms in HIV-associated neurological disorders.

Education: MD from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (1983). Extensive residency and fellowship training in Neurology and Pediatrics at institutions including Children’s Hospital of Boston and McLean Hospital.

Research: Specializes in HIV neurovirology, neuroimmunology, and neuroprotective strategies. Key interests include synaptic plasticity disruption, microglial homeostasis, and translational therapies for HAND (HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders). His lab explores quantum dot applications for neuroinflammatory damage probing and MLK inhibitor development for neuroprotection.

Awards:

• Herman and Gertrude Silver Award (2019)
• Hilary Koprowski Prize (2016)
• Translational Research in NeuroVirology Lectureship (2015)
• Child Neurology Young Investigator Award (1990)

Patents: Holder of 28 patents, including MLK inhibitors and methods for neurodegenerative disease treatment. Notable patents issued between 2014-2017 focus on pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and quantum dot assemblies.

Labs/Teams: Leads the CND, fostering interdisciplinary research in neurotherapeutics. Collaborates globally on clinical studies of HIV-related neurological outcomes in pediatric populations.