Jesse M. Cedarbaum

Jesse M. Cedarbaum, MD, FAAN, is a Professor in the Department of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine with a distinguished career spanning academic medicine and pharmaceutical industry leadership. A 1978 Yale School of Medicine graduate, he completed his residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and is board certified in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.

Dr. Cedarbaum's research focuses on Movement Disorders, particularly Parkinson's Disease, with significant contributions to neuropharmacology, biomarker development, and clinical trial design. His work has advanced understanding of the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system, Parkinson's disease pathophysiology, and the development of clinical outcome measures including the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R). He has pioneered research in digital health technologies for clinical trials and developed novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative conditions.

His publication record demonstrates consistent leadership in Parkinson's disease research, with recent work focusing on genetic risk factors (LRRK2 and GBA), α-synuclein biomarkers, and patient-centered outcome measures. His research program bridges basic science, clinical application, and pharmaceutical development, with particular emphasis on translating scientific discoveries into therapeutic advances.

Dr. Cedarbaum has held significant leadership roles including chair of the ADNI Private Partner Scientific Board, Industry Scientific Advisory Board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation-sponsored Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative, and industry co-chair of the Critical Path for Parkinson's consortium. His work has resulted in over 100 publications and significant contributions to FDA-endorsed clinical trial outcome measures.

His laboratory and clinical research program at Yale focuses on neurodegenerative disorders with particular emphasis on Parkinson's disease, Lewy Body Disease, Cerebellar Ataxia, and related movement disorders. He continues to lead collaborative research efforts developing novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for these conditions.