Pat Levitt

Pat Levitt, PhD, is the Chief Scientific Officer and Director of The Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He holds the Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics at CHLA and is the W.M. Keck Provost Professor of Neurogenetics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. His research focuses on understanding the genetic and environmental factors influencing brain development, particularly in neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Levitt has published over 296 papers and trained over 100 students and fellows, many of whom now lead academic and industry programs. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on prominent advisory boards, including the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). His work integrates basic science with policy, aiming to improve clinical care and policy decisions impacting children’s health.

• Affiliations:
  • Chief Scientific Officer, CHLA
  • Director, The Saban Research Institute
  • Provost Professor, Keck School of Medicine of USC
  • Senior Fellow, Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child
• Education:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology, University of Chicago
  • PhD in Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroanatomy, Yale University School of Medicine

Levitt’s research emphasizes the intersection of genetics, environment, and neurodevelopment. Key areas include maternal stress effects on infant neurodevelopment, genetic risk factors in psychiatric disorders, and translational research to bridge laboratory findings to clinical treatments. He leads large-scale initiatives like the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study and has secured major grants, including a $6.8M NIH grant for neurodevelopmental research. His advocacy extends to science policy, shaping investments in child health programs through the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.

His awards include the USC Mellon Postdoctoral Mentoring Award and recognition as a McKnight Scholar. Levitt’s interdisciplinary approach bridges pediatric research, education, and policy, making him a pivotal figure in advancing child health science.