Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings

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Research Professor, Department of Brain Health

Director, Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience at UNLV

Expertise: Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Drug development, Clinical trials, Neurotherapeutics

Biography

UNLV research professor Jeffrey L. Cummings is a neurologist globally recognized for his contributions to Alzheimer's research, drug development, and clinical trials. He serves as the Joy Chambers-Grundy professor of brain science and director of the Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine's Department of Brain Health.

Dr. Cummings leads the UNLV Clinical Trials Observatory, the world’s only research observatory devoted exclusively to analyzing the pipeline of Alzheimer's drugs in clinical trials to better inform drug development decisions. He also heads a biomarker observatory, which captures and categorizes emerging information on blood tests, brain scans, and digital devices related to Alzheimer's disease.

Prior to joining UNLV in 2019, Dr. Cummings served as founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, as well as two UCLA entities — the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, and the Deane F. Johnson Center for Neurotherapeutics.

Named a “Rock Star of Science” by Gentleman’s Quarterly, Dr. Cummings — a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science — has published 43 books and more than 900 peer-reviewed articles on neuropsychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease, and clinical trials.

His numerous recognitions for his scientific and leadership contributions include the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry’s Distinguished Scientist Award, Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Drug Development from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the national Alzheimer’s Association’s Bengt Winblad Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2024, he was ranked by ScholarGPS as the world's top scholar for his lifetime contributions in the areas of dementia and drug development.

Education

Sc.D., Science, University of Wyoming
Neurology fellowship, Boston University School of Medicine
Neuropathology/Neuropsychiatry fellowship, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London
M.D., Medicine, University of Washington
B.S., Zoology/Philosophy, University of Wyoming

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Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings In The News

Daily Rundown: Heat summit planning, Alzheimer’s trials growth and rising airfare costs

The number of national clinical trials for Alzheimer’s therapies has increased by 40 percent in the last decade. That’s according to UNLV brain health researcher Jeffrey Cummings’ 10th annual report, published Tuesday in the Alzheimer’s Association’s research journal.

Slow Alzheimer’s diagnoses ‘mean UK patients missing out on experimental treatments’

Dr Jeffrey Cummings, of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has published an annual review of clinical trials for Alzheimer’s drugs for the past decade. The latest review, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, reveals a shifting approach to the disease, with fewer drugs designed to remove amyloid and more targeting tau, inflammation and other immune system pathways.

Global snapshot of Alzheimer’s research offers new hope

Alzheimer's Research UK

Every year, world‑leading dementia researcher Dr Jeffrey Cummings releases a global snapshot of Alzheimer’s trials – and the 2026 update has just been published. Right now, researchers are evaluating 158 medicines across 192 trials – marking an impressive 40% rise over the past decade. This year’s review also shows the most diverse Alzheimer’s drug pipeline to date.

UNLV researcher reports major progress in Alzheimer’s drug development

The global effort to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has seen a 35% increase in the number of clinical trials and a 40% increase in therapies being tested since 2016, according to a new report from a UNLV researcher.