Maiken Nedergaard

Maiken Nedergaard is a part-time Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, holding joint appointments in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Pharmacology and Physiology. She leads the Center for Translational Neuromedicine and is globally recognized for pioneering research on the glymphatic system—brain-wide fluid clearance pathways critical for waste removal and neurodegeneration prevention. Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and neurological disorders linked to impaired fluid dynamics.

Dr. Nedergaard's research integrates neuroscience, physiology, and engineering, with over 500 publications in high-impact journals. She has received numerous accolades, including the Jeppe Juhl Prize and Tagea Brandt Prize, and holds honorary professorships internationally. Her lab develops imaging tools (e.g., multiphoton microscopy) and therapies targeting glymphatic dysfunction, including adenosine-based treatments and Na-K-Cl cotransporter inhibitors for neurological conditions. Collaborations span academia and industry, with 10+ patents for therapeutic strategies.

Education: MD from the University of Copenhagen (1983), D.M.Sc. in Neuroscience (1988). Postdoctoral training at Cornell University and University of Copenhagen. Her research also explores sleep's role in glymphatic clearance, CSF-brain interactions, and the impact of environmental factors like air pollution on neurological health.