Mark Cohen

Mark Cohen, MD is a Professor in both the Department of Pathology and Department of Neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He serves as Co-Director of the National Prion Diseases Pathology Surveillance Center and Neuropathology Core Director at the Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. His research focuses on neuropathological mechanisms of prion diseases and neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Cohen completed his medical degree at Cornell University Medical College (1983) and trained in neuropathology at University Hospitals of Cleveland (1990).

Education:

• Doctor of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College (1983)
• Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences (1979)

Research Interests:

• Prion disease neuropathology and diagnostic biomarkers
• Neurodegenerative mechanisms in Alzheimer's and tauopathies
• Autoimmune encephalitis differential diagnosis

His work integrates molecular pathology, animal model systems, and clinical diagnostics to advance understanding of prion-related and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative conditions.

Key Contributions:

• Developed skin prion seeding activity biomarkers
• Advanced MRI-based classification for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Investigated tau protein conformers in Alzheimer's progression

Labs/Teams: Leads the National Prion Diseases Pathology Surveillance Center and collaborates with Cleveland Alzheimer's Research Center neuropathology team.