Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings

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

Jeffrey L. Cummings, MD, ScD, joined the UNLV School of Integrated Health Sciences in 2019 as research professor within the department of brain health. Dr. Cummings is the Joy Chambers-Grundy Professor of Brain Science, an endowed professorship. He is the Director of the Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, a center devoted to using the tools of neuroscience and neurologic drug development to transform people’s lives.

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

A world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher and leader of clinical trials, Dr. Cummings has been recognized for his scientific and leadership contributions with the American Geriatrics Society’s Henderson Award (2006), the national Alzheimer’s Association’s Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Award (2008), and the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry’s Distinguished Scientist Award (2010). 

Dr. Cummings’ interests embrace clinical trials, developing new therapies for brain diseases, and the interface of neuroscience and society. Dr. Cummings has published nearly 800 articles and 44 books devoted to neuroscience, Alzheimer’s disease, and clinical trials.

Dr. Cummings received the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), the International Society of CNS Drug Development’s Leadership and Achievement Award and the national Alzheimer’s Association’s Bengt Winblad Lifetime Achievement Award (2018).

Additionally, he was featured in Gentleman’s Quarterly (June 2009) as a “Rock Star of Science. ™” In addition to his work at UNLV, Dr. Cummings is professor of medicine (Neurology) at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and he is principal investigator/director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences-funded Center for Neurodegeneration and Translational Neuroscience.

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

NeurologyLive
Approved in 2016, the newly updated label changes add more clarity to the use of pimavanserin, noting that patients with Parkinson disease with dementia may be eligible for treatment.
Psychiatric Times
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has made 2 updates to the packaging label for an approved treatment for Parkinson disease psychosis.
Medscape
Clinicians from Switzerland are urging caution when prescribing an anti-amyloid medication in a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) also taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.
Drug Discovery World
A new immunotherapy candidate has demonstrated a trend for slowing cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD), potentially offering a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to other immunotherapies.

Articles Featuring Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings

Students at Pida Plaza on the first day of classes (Josh Hawkins, UNLV).
Campus News | September 1, 2023

A roundup of prominent news stories highlighting university pride, research, and community collaboration.

Graduation surprise
Campus News | August 1, 2023

News stories from the summer featuring UNLV students and faculty.

Dancers with the U.N.L.V. Ewalu Club
Campus News | October 4, 2022

A collection of news stories highlighting research wins, expert insights, and academic achievement.