Jeffrey N Savas

Jeffrey N Savas, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with primary appointments in Neurology (Behavioral Neurology) and secondary appointments in Pharmacology and Medicine (Nephrology and Hypertension). He leads the Savas Lab, a translational research group specializing in dementia and aging through advanced proteomics methodologies.

Dr. Savas earned his PhD from New York University School of Medicine (2009) and completed postdoctoral training in Proteomics and Molecular Neuroscience at Scripps Research Institute (2015). His research focuses on proteostasis mechanisms, particularly disrupted protein turnover and synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Key investigations include long-lived protein dynamics in aging brains, Aβ plaque polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease, and genetic mutation impacts on neurodegeneration using cutting-edge imaging and mass spectrometry techniques.

Recent publications (2025) reveal a strong emphasis on brain-wide synaptic protein turnover analysis, Alzheimer's disease molecular pathology, and maternal-fetal transmission mechanisms. His work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, demonstrating consistent innovation in proteomic methodologies for neurodegenerative disease research.

Significant honors include:

• Rising Star in Proteomics and Metabolomics, Journal of Proteome Research (2024)
• Hartwell Foundation Individual Biomedical Investigator Award (2016)
• NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) (2014)
• Alzheimer’s Association Young Scholar Award (2011)

Dr. Savas serves on the Journal of Proteome Research editorial board and chairs major symposia at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry and Society for Neuroscience. His laboratory is embedded within Northwestern's neuroscience ecosystem, collaborating extensively with the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Simpson Querrey Center for Neurogenetics, and Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment.

The Savas Lab operates at the intersection of proteomics and neurodegeneration research, utilizing high-resolution mass spectrometry and chemical imaging to map protein dynamics across brain regions. Current projects investigate synaptic vulnerability in aging, protein aggregation mechanisms, and novel therapeutic targets for dementia-related disorders through multi-institutional partnerships.