Cynthia Lemere, PhDAssociate Professor of Neurology at Brigham & Women's Hosp/Harvard MedicalSpeaker
Profile
Cynthia A. Lemere, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Lemere’s research focuses on using the immune system therapeutically for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Studies out of her lab explore the role of immune system proteins in Alzheimer's and the clearance of amyloid-beta from the brain, as well as gaining a better understanding of the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome; identifying the risks of deep space radiation on the brain; and understanding the contributions of a disease-related, modified form of amyloid-beta, called pyroglutamate amyloid-beta, to Alzheimer’s disease and determining its value as a therapeutic target.
Dr. Lemere earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, followed by a master’s in Neurobiology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. After working at the Center for Neurologic Diseases (CND) in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dr. Lemere conducted research on Alzheimer's-related brain changes in individuals with Down syndrome in the Selkoe Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital while pursuing her doctorate in Pathology at Boston University School of Medicine. After receiving her Ph.D., she remained at the CND as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Instructor.
In 1997, Dr. Lemere started her own lab when she became an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. There her interests shifted to include the role of inflammation and the immune system in Alzheimer's disease. In 2004, she became an Associate Professor of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and since then, the majority of her work has focused on developing a safe and effective amyloid-beta vaccine for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Lemere serves on several national and international scientific advisory boards, including the ADPD Scientific Advisory Council, the Brightfocus Foundation Scientific Review Council, the National Alzheimer’s Assocation Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, and the DIAN-TU Therapeutic Evaluation Committee. In addition, she serves as a scientific advisor for several companies.