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



Dr. Robert Stern is Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology at Boston University (BU) Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert on the neurodegenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and is Co-Founder and Director of Clinical Research for the BU CTE Center. From 2010-2019, he was the Director of the Clinical Core of the BU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (funded by U.S. National Institutes of Health, NIH). The focus of Dr. Stern’s research is to develop methods of detecting and diagnosing CTE during life and to better understand the risk factors for later-life neurological consequences of repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries in former American football players, soccer players, and other contact sport athletes. He was the principal investigator of the first grant funded by NIH to study CTE, for the DETECT Study. Subsequently, he was the lead investigator of the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project, a NIH-funded, multi-center, 8-year study (2015-2023) to develop methods of detecting and diagnosing CTE during life, including the development and examination of neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers, establishing and validating diagnostic criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES), and studying potential risk factors of the disease. He is currently one of the principal investigators for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project-II, a NIH-funded multi-center study expanding upon the original DIAGNOSE study, examining new potential blood and imaging biomarkers to diagnose CTE in living patients and differentiate CTE from similar diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dr. Stern was also the principal investigator (currently co-investigator) of the Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS; also funded by NIH), a longitudinal online assessment of over 6000 former American football players and soccer players (age 40 years or older), who participated at any level. Dr. Stern’s other major area of funded research includes the diagnosis and treatment of AD. He has had continuous research funding for over 35 years, from NIH, the U.S. Department of Defense, foundations, and industry. Dr. Stern was a member of the NFL Players Association’s Mackey-White Player Health and Safety Committee as well as the court-appointed Medical Science Committee of the NCAA Concussion Settlement. He has over 250 peer-reviewed publications, has been a member of several medical journal editorial boards, and is the co-editor of two books: Sports Neurology, part of the Handbook of Clinical Neurology series; and the Oxford Handbook of Adult Cognitive Disorders. He is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist and has developed several widely used neuropsychological tests, including the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB). He is a Fellow of the American Neuropsychiatric Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Throughout his career Dr. Stern has received several honors and recently was awarded the 2025 Leon Thal Prize in Recognition of Research Excellence by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

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


Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Neurosurgery


Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate 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
5R01NS139383-02

Metformin in Alzheimer's dementia Prevention (MAP)
09/15/2020 - 04/30/2026 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York NIH NIA
5R01AG062624-05

Metformin in Alzheimers dementia Prevention (MAP)
08/15/2019 - 04/30/2026 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York NIH NIA
5R01AG062624-04

Protocol number BAN2401-G000-303: AHEAD 3-45 Study: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Treatment Arm, 216 Week Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Treatment With BAN2401 in Subject
01/01/2020 - 12/31/2025 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
University of Southern California Eisai, Inc


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 - 09/28/2025 (PI)
Eisai, Inc.


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

The A3 Study: Ante-Amyloid prevention of Alzheimer's disease
06/01/2019 - 04/30/2025 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
University of Southern California NIH NIA
5R01AG054029-02

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

Showing 10 of 53 results. Show All Results


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2025 Risk and Resilience, Clinical presentation, and Biomarker Profiles of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Related Dementias: The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project II 5R01NS139383-02
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
Showing 10 of 34 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 Website       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Rajabli F, Benchek P, Tosto G, Kushch N, Sha J, Bazemore K, Zhu C, Lee WP, Haut J, Hamilton-Nelson KL, Wheeler NR, Zhao Y, Farrell JJ, Grunin MA, Leung YY, Kuksa PP, Li D, da Fonseca EL, Mez JB, Palmer EL, Pillai J, Sherva RM, Song YE, Zhang X, Ikeuchi T, Iqbal T, Pathak O, Valladares O, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Kuzma AB, Abner E, Adams LD, Adams PM, Aguirre A, Albert MS, Albin RL, Allen M, Alvarez L, Apostolova LG, Arnold SE, Asthana S, Atwood CS, Auerbach S, Ayres G, Baldwin CT, Barber RC, Barnes LL, Barral S, Beach TG, Becker JT, Beecham GW, Beekly D, Benitez BA, Bennett D, Bertelson J, Bird TD, Blacker D, Boeve BF, Bowen JD, Boxer A, Brewer J, Burke JR, Burns JM, Buxbaum JD, Cairns NJ, Cantwell LB, Cao C, Carlson CS, Carlsson CM, Carney RM, Carrasquillo MM, Chasse S, Chesselet MF, Chin NA, Chui HC, Chung J, Craft S, Crane PK, Cribbs DH, Crocco EA, Cruchaga C, Cuccaro ML, Cullum M, Darby E, Davis B, De Jager PL, DeCarli C, DeToledo J, Dick M, Dickson DW, Dombroski BA, Doody RS, Duara R, Ertekin-Taner N, Evans DA, Faber KM, Fairchild TJ, Fallon KB, Fardo DW, Farlow MR, Fernandez-Hernandez V, Ferris S, Friedland RP, Foroud TM, Frosch MP, Fulton-Howard B, Galasko DR, Gamboa A, Gearing M, Geschwind DH, Ghetti B, Gilbert JR, Go RCP, Goate AM, Grabowski TJ, Graff-Radford NR, Green RC, Growdon JH, Hakonarson H, Hall J, Hamilton RL, Harari O, Hardy J, Harrell LE, Head E, Henderson VW, Hernandez M, Hohman T, Honig LS, Huebinger RM, Huentelman MJ, Hulette CM, Hyman BT, Hynan LS, Ibanez L, Jarvik GP, Jayadev S, Jin LW, Johnson K, Johnson L, Kamboh MI, Karydas AM, Katz MJ, Kauwe JS, Kaye JA, Keene CD, Khaleeq A, Kikuchi M, Kim R, Knebl J, Kowall NW, Kramer JH, Kukull WA, LaFerla FM, Lah JJ, Larson EB, Lerner A, Leverenz JB, Levey AI, Lieberman AP, Lipton RB, Logue M, Lopez OL, Lunetta KL, Lyketsos CG, Mains D, Margaret FE, Marson DC, Martin ER, Martiniuk F, Mash DC, Masliah E, Massman P, Masurkar A, McCormick WC, McCurry SM, McDavid AN, McDonough S, McKee AC, Mesulam M, Miller BL, Miller CA, Miller JW, Montine TJ, Monuki ES, Morris JC, Mukherjee S, Myers AJ, Nguyen T, Obisesan T, O'Bryant S, Olichney JM, Ory M, Palmer R, Parisi JE, Paulson HL, Pavlik V, Paydarfar D, Perez V, Peskind E, Petersen RC, Petrovitch H, Pierce A, Polk M, Poon WW, Potter H, Qu L, Quiceno M, Quinn JF, Raj A, Raskind M, Reiman EM, Reisberg B, Reisch JS, Ringman JM, Roberson ED, Rodriguear M, Rogaeva E, Rosen HJ, Rosenberg RN, Royall DR, Sabbagh M, Sadovnick AD, Sager MA, Sano M, Saykin AJ, Schneider JA, Schneider LS, Seeley WW, Slifer SH, Small S, Smith AG, Smith JP, Sonnen JA, Spina S, George-Hyslop PS, Starks TD, Stern RA, Stevens AB, Strittmatter SM, Sultzer D, Swerdlow RH, Tanzi RE, Tilson JL, Trojanowski JQ, Troncoso JC, Tsolaki M, Tsuang DW, Van Deerlin VM, van Eldik LJ, Vance JM, Vardarajan BN, Vassar R, Vinters HV, Vonsattel JP, Weintraub S, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Whitehead PL, Wijsman EM, Wilhelmsen KC, Williams B, Williamson J, Wilms H, Wingo TS, Wisniewski T, Woltjer RL, Woon M, Wright CB, Wu CK, Younkin SG, Yu CE, Yu L, Zhu X, Kunkle BW, Bush WS, Miyashita A, Byrd GS, Wang LS, Farrer LA, Haines JL, Mayeux R, Pericak-Vance MA, Schellenberg GD, Jun GR, Reitz C, Naj AC. Multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis of 56,241 individuals identifies known and novel cross-population and ancestry-specific associations as novel risk loci for Alzheimer's disease. Genome Biol. 2025 Jul 17; 26(1):210.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40676597; PMCID: PMC12273372; DOI: 10.1186/s13059-025-03564-z;
     
  2. 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;
     
  3. 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; PMCID: PMC12147854; DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102084;
     
  4. 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 May; 105(2):443-452.View Related Profiles. PMID: 40151917; PMCID: PMC12450407; DOI: 10.1177/13872877251329468;
     
  5. 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;
     
  6. 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;
     
  7. 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;
     
  8. 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 Nov; 39(8):2295-2326.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39865747; PMCID: PMC12301998; DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2453103;
     
  9. 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 Nov; 39(8):2159-2183.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39834035; PMCID: PMC12276948; DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2454047;
     
  10. 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 Nov; 39(8):2327-2351.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39834028; PMCID: PMC12276947; DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2451828;
     
Showing 10 of 266 results. Show More

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

Bar chart showing 266 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
202510


2025 Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health: 2025 Leon Thal Prize
2024 Kessler Foundation: Kenneth L. Estabrook Distinguished Research Scientist Lectureship
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
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