Robert A. Stern, PhD
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Neurology

PhD, University of Rhode Island
MA, University of Rhode Island
BA, Wesleyan University



I am Co-founder and Director of Clinical Research for the Boston University (BU) Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. For the past 16 years, the primary focus of my research has been the long-term consequences of repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (symptomatic concussions and more frequent asymptomatic subconcussive or nonconcussive trauma), including the neurodegenerative disease, CTE. Along with a superb group of collaborators at BU and elsewhere, I have been conducting research involving: clinicopathological correlation in CTE; the examination of risk and resilience factors (e.g., genetic, head impact exposure, cognitive reserve, and importantly, racial disparities and social determinants of health) for CTE; the assessment of potential fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of CTE; and the development of diagnostic criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome, the clinical syndrome associated with CTE neuropathology. I was the Contact mPI for the original DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project (U01NS093334; other mPIs, Drs. Cummings, Reiman, and Shenton) and I am an mPI (other mPIs, Drs. Alosco, Reiman, and Rabinovici) on the NINDS-funded DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project-II (R01NS139383). I was the PI of the NINDS-funded R01 grant (the first grant funded by NIH focused on CTE) for the DETECT Study. I was also the PI of an NINDS/NIA R01 grant examining these issues in female and male former soccer players as well as former American football players in the HITSS project (Dr. Alosco transitioned to PI one year ago). From 2010-2019, I was the Clinical Core Leader of the BU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC); I stepped down from that position in 2019 to focus on my CTE-related research, though I remain a Senior Investigator for the BU ADRC. I have served as the site PI on several multi-center NIH- and industry-sponsored clinical trials for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD). I have published extensively on the use of various neuropsychological tests and novel biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of AD and AD Related Dementias (ADRD). I have been a member of medical advisory boards/committees for Biogen and several other biotech and pharmaceutical companies and foundations, regarding assessment and diagnostic issues in AD, including improving cognitive screening in primary care medicine. I am a clinical neuropsychologist with a specialty in evaluating and diagnosing cognitive disorders, including those from AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. I have also been honored to work with countless patients and their caregivers as they navigate through the complex journey with dementia. In addition, I have developed several commonly used clinical tests and instruments, including the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB), the Visual Analog Mood Scales (VAMS), and the Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS) for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure. I have had leadership positions in several research centers and training programs and have mentored over 40 fellows and other trainees. Although I transitioned to working half-time in December 2023, I remain active, committed, and passionate about my current research and academic responsibilities.

Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Anatomy & Neurobiology


Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Neurosurgery


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences


Director of Clinical Research
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center




Risk and Resilience, Clinical presentation, and Biomarker Profiles of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Related Dementias: The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project II
08/15/2024 - 07/31/2029 (Multi-PI)
PI: Robert A. Stern, PhD
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
1R01NS139383-01

The A45 Study: Combination anti-amyloid therapy for preclinical Alzheimer's disease
09/30/2019 - 05/31/2025 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
University of Southern California NIH NIA
5R01AG061848-05

Metformin in Alzheimers dementia Prevention (MAP)
08/15/2019 - 04/30/2025 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York NIH NIA
5R01AG062624-04

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, bayesian adaptive randomization design and dose regimen-finding study to evaluate the safety tolerability and efficacy of BAN2401 in subjects with
02/01/2013 - 09/28/2024 (PI)
Eisai, Inc.


Protocol #API015A2201J, A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two cohort parallel group study to evaluate the efficacy of CAD106 and CNP520 in participants at risk for the onset of clinical
02/01/2018 - 08/31/2024 (PI)
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation


Tau PET Imaging for the USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (USC ATRI) A4 Trial (“A4 TAU”)
10/01/2016 - 07/31/2024 (Subcontract PI)
University of Southern California Fundation for NIH


Metformin in Alzheimer's dementia Prevention (MAP)
05/01/2021 - 04/30/2024 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York NIH NIA
5R01AG062624-04

Metformin in Alzheimer's dementia Prevention (MAP)
09/15/2020 - 04/30/2024 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York NIH NIA
5R01AG062624-04

The A3 Study: Ante-Amyloid prevention of Alzheimer's disease
06/01/2019 - 04/30/2024 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
University of Southern California NIH NIA
5R01AG054029-02

Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration - the LEARN Study
11/01/2015 - 04/30/2024 (Subcontract PI)
University of Southern California Alzheimer's Assoc


Showing 10 of 52 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Risk and Resilience, Clinical presentation, and Biomarker Profiles of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Related Dementias: The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project II 1R01NS139383-01
2023 Risk for Later-Life Cognitive Impairment, Neurobehavioral Dysregulation, and Dementia in Former Soccer and American Football Players: The Head Impact and Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS) 5R01NS119651-03
2022 Risk for Later-Life Cognitive Impairment, Neurobehavioral Dysregulation, and Dementia in Former Soccer and American Football Players: The Head Impact and Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS) 5R01NS119651-02
2022 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 5U01NS093334-07
2021 Risk for Later-Life Cognitive Impairment, Neurobehavioral Dysregulation, and Dementia in Former Soccer and American Football Players: The Head Impact and Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS) 1R01NS119651-01
2021 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 5U01NS093334-06 24
2020 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 5U01NS093334-05 24
2019 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 3U01NS093334-04S1 24
2019 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 5U01NS093334-04 24
2018 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Detection, Diagnosis, Course, and Risk Factors 5U01NS093334-03 24
Showing 10 of 33 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. van Amerongen S, Peskind ER, Tripodis Y, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Alosco ML, Katz D, Banks SJ, Barr WB, Cantu RC, Dodick DW, Geda YE, Mez J, Wethe JV, Weller JL, Daneshvar DH, Palmisano J, Fagle T, Holleck M, Kossow B, Pulukuri S, Tuz-Zahra F, Colasurdo E, Sikkema C, Iliff J, Li G, Shenton ME, Reiman EM, Cummings JL, Stern RA. Catecholamine Dysregulation in Former American Football Players: Findings From the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. Neurology. 2025 May 27; 104(10):e213584.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40258206; PMCID: PMC12012624; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213584;
     
  2. Han X, Zhang Y, Petrosky JN, Bald S, Sherva RM, Labadorf A, Cherry JD, Chung J, Farrell K, Abdolmohammadi B, Durape S, Martin BM, Palmisano JN, Farrell JJ, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Dwyer B, Daneshvar DH, Dams-O'Connor K, Jun GR, Lunetta KL, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Cantu RC, Shenton ME, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Stern RA, Alosco ML, Tripodis Y, Farrer LA, Stein TD, Crary JF, McKee AC, Mez J. A structural haplotype in the 17q21.31 MAPT region is associated with increased risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy endophenotypes. Cell Rep Med. 2025 May 20; 6(5):102084.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40239644
     
  3. Labonte J, Sugarman MA, Pettway E, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Ashton NJ, Karikari TK, Aparicio HJ, Frank B, Tripodis Y, Martin B, Palmisano JN, Steinberg EG, Simkin I, Farrer LA, Jun GR, Turk KW, Budson AE, O'Connor MK, Au R, Goldstein LE, Stern RA, Stein TD, McKee AC, Qiu WQ, Mez J, Banks SJ, Alosco ML. Sex differences on tau, astrocytic, and neurodegenerative plasma biomarkers. J Alzheimers Dis. 2025 Mar 28; 13872877251329468.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40151917
     
  4. Emrani S, Koutures A, Tripodis Y, Uretsky M, Abdolmohammadi B, Nowinski C, Daneshvar DH, Dwyer B, Katz DI, Goldstein LE, Cantu RC, Martin BM, Palmisano JN, Dams-O'Connor K, Crary JF, Stern RA, Mez J, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, McKee AC, Stein TD, Alosco ML. Characterizing white matter and vascular pathologies in brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts. Acta Neuropathol. 2025 Mar 06; 149(1):24.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40047953; PMCID: PMC11885321; DOI: 10.1007/s00401-025-02860-z;
     
  5. Miner AE, Groh JR, Farris C, Hattiangadi S, Cui A, Brickman AM, Alshikho M, Rabinovici GD, Rosen HJ, Cobigo Y, Asken B, Nowinski CJ, Bureau S, Shahrokhi F, Tripodis Y, Ly M, Altaras C, Lenio S, Stern RA, Rosen G, Kelley H, Huber BR, Stein TD, Mez J, McKee AC, Alosco ML. Does white matter and vascular injury from repetitive head impacts lead to a novel pattern on T2 FLAIR MRI? A hypothesis proposal and call for research. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Mar; 21(3):e70085.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40145364; PMCID: PMC11947747; DOI: 10.1002/alz.70085;
     
  6. Alosco ML, Mejía Pérez J, Culhane JE, Shankar R, Nowinski CJ, Bureau S, Mundada N, Smith K, Amuiri A, Asken B, Groh JR, Miner A, Pettway E, Mosaheb S, Tripodis Y, Windon C, Mercier G, Stern RA, Grinberg LT, Soleimani-Meigooni DN, Christian BT, Betthauser TJ, Stein TD, McKee AC, Mathis CA, Abrahamson EE, Ikonomovic MD, Johnson SC, Mez J, La Joie R, Schonhaut D, Rabinovici GD. 18F-MK-6240 tau PET in patients at-risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Mol Neurodegener. 2025 Feb 25; 20(1):23.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39994806; PMCID: PMC11852567; DOI: 10.1186/s13024-025-00808-1;
     
  7. Altaras C, Ly MT, Schultz O, Barr WB, Banks SJ, Wethe JV, Tripodis Y, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Ashton N, Peskind E, Cantu RC, Coleman MJ, Lin AP, Koerte IK, Bouix S, Daneshvar D, Dodick DW, Geda YE, Katz DL, Weller JL, Mez J, Palmisano JN, Martin B, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Shenton ME, Stern RA, Alosco ML. Dispersion-based cognitive intra-individual variability in former American football players: Association with traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, repetitive head impacts, and biomarkers. Clin Neuropsychol. 2025 Jan 26; 1-29.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39865747
     
  8. Asken BM, Brett BL, Barr WB, Banks S, Wethe JV, Dams-O'Connor K, Stern RA, Alosco ML. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: State-of-the-science update and narrative review. Clin Neuropsychol. 2025 Jan 20; 1-25.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39834035
     
  9. Ly MT, Altaras C, Tripodis Y, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Peskind ER, Banks SJ, Barr WB, Wethe JV, Lenio S, Bondi MW, Delano-Wood LM, Cantu RC, Coleman MJ, Dodick DW, Mez J, Daneshvar DH, Palmisano JN, Martin B, Lin AP, Koerte IK, Bouix S, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Shenton ME, Stern RA, Alosco ML. Single- versus two-test criteria for cognitive impairment: associations with CSF and imaging markers in former American football players. Clin Neuropsychol. 2025 Jan 20; 1-25.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39834028
     
  10. Abdolmohammadi B, Tuz-Zahra F, Uretsky M, Nicks R, Mosaheb S, Labonte J, Yhang E, Durape S, Martin B, Palmisano J, Nowinski C, Cherry JD, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Dams-O'Connor K, Crary J, Dwyer B, Daneshvar DH, Goldstein LE, Au R, Katz DI, Kowall NW, Cantu RC, Stern RA, Alosco ML, Stein TD, Tripodis Y, McKee AC, Mez J. Duration of Ice Hockey Play and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Dec 02; 7(12):e2449106.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39630446; PMCID: PMC11618473; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.49106;
     
Showing 10 of 265 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 265 publications over 39 distinct years, with a maximum of 21 publications in 2018

YearPublications
19861
19871
19891
19901
19914
19926
19936
19943
19955
19966
19974
19981
19993
20005
20011
20022
20036
20042
20051
20062
20074
20085
20094
20105
20117
201210
20136
201412
201514
201614
201712
201821
201916
202013
202111
20229
202314
202418
20259


2019 Boston University School of Medicine: Jack Spivack 2019 Distinguished Neuroscientist Award
2016 University of Alabama: Visiting Professor Lecture
2016 Boston University School of Medicine: Faculty Research Award
2016 Ranked #7 in USA Today’s “Top 100 Important NFL People”
2016 Ranked #57 in Sports Illustrated’s MMQB 100
2014 Mayo Clinic: Visiting Speaker
2008 Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter: National Research Award
2001 American Neuropsychiatric Association: Fellow
2001 National Academy of Neuropsychology: Fellow
1999 Brown Medicine School: Outstanding Teaching Award in Psychology
1997 Brown University: Master of Arts ad eundem
1997 National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression (NARSAD): Independent Investigator Award
1988 Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society: Inductee
1984 Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology: Inductee
1980 Wesleyan University: Heideman Award (for Community Service)
In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Alzheimer's Disease
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Concussion
Dementia
Neuropsychology
Contact for Mentoring:

72 E. Concord St Robinson (B)
Boston MA 02118
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