Dr. Joseph C. Masdeu is a world-renowned neurologist and physician-scientist who serves as the Director of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist and a Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Madrid and a PhD from the University of Navarre in Spain before moving to the United States to complete a residency in neurology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago. Furthering his expertise in the structural foundations of brain disease, he completed a fellowship in neuropathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Masdeu has held prestigious positions, including Chairman of Neurology at New York Medical College and a senior leadership role at the National Institutes of Health.
A pioneer in the field of neuroimaging, Dr. Masdeu’s research focuses on utilizing molecular imaging to identify early markers of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. He has authored over 150 scientific papers and seven influential textbooks, including the widely used Localization in Clinical Neurology. His work has been instrumental in clarifying the anatomy of human memory pathways and developing specialized PET imaging probes to track neuronal loss. Beyond his research, he is a former President of the American Society of Neuroimaging and has served as a Director of the American Academy of Neurology.
In the context of the Houston Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Dr. Masdeu serves as a primary leader and Co-Principal Investigator. He leverages his extensive background in clinical trials and neuroimaging to oversee the integration of clinical data and advanced diagnostics across the center’s member institutions. Additionally, he remains deeply committed to medical education, directing the Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship at Houston Methodist to mentor and train the next generation of specialists in cognitive neurology.
