AFFIRMATIVhealth Announces Appointment of New Scientific Director
NOVATO, Calif. & SONOMA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Alzheimers–Sonoma-based AFFIRMATIVhealth, PLLC (https://www.affirmativhealth.com),
presenters of RE:mind, a program created to improve brain health for the
millions impacted by Alzheimer’s or dementia, today announced the
appointment of Brian Kennedy, Ph.D., as its new Scientific Director.
Dr. Kennedy comes to AFFIRMATIVhealth from the Buck Institute for
Research on Aging (the Buck), one of the first academic research
Institutions focused on understanding the biology of aging and the links
to associated chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, type II diabetes and
cardiovascular diseases. During his six-year tenure as CEO of the Buck,
Dr. Kennedy oversaw the establishment of the first Ph.D. program in the
biology of aging jointly administered with the University of Southern
California and pushed research at the Institute toward translation,
fostering partnerships with the Pharmaceutical Industry as establishing
new spinoff companies targeted toward diseases of aging.
Dr. Kennedy continues to conduct his research at the Buck, studying the
pathways that modulate longevity. A major focus of his current research
is to study the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway. TOR generated
excitement in the age research field when it was shown recently that the
drug rapamycin can extend mouse lifespan. One of the goals of his
research is to determine whether pathways like TOR can be regulated to
delay aging or treat the diseases of aging in humans.
Dr. Kennedy earned his Ph.D. in Biology at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, where he took part in groundbreaking studies on aging. He
completed postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Cancer Center in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Dr. Kennedy was an
associate professor in the biochemistry department at the University of
Washington in Seattle when he was appointed president and chief
executive officer of the Buck Institute in 2010.
Dr. Kennedy stated, “One of the things I love about the aging field is
its constant innovation. Traditional medicine has yet to prove effective
when dealing with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Ongoing
research has shown significant promise and alternative holistic
strategies including lifestyle, diet, nutraceuticals and drugs are now
available. I look forward to providing thought leadership, developing
strategies to further validate the science-based approach and finding
ways to extend the RE:mind program by incorporating new advances in the
field. Ultimately, I want to contribute to AFFIRMATIVhealth’s goal of
improving cognitive function in the aging population.”
Denise Kalos, COO of AFFIRMATIVhealth, said, “We are thrilled that Dr.
Kennedy saw the incredible importance in the work we are doing and that
we have someone on board with his outstanding scientific credentials. We
value his expertise in the field of aging and understanding of the
science that is the foundation for our work.”
About AFFIRMATIVhealth: AFFIRMATIVhealth is passionate about
bringing education, wellness, and hope to those who are affected by
Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders. We seek to bring the
latest health-conscious science to those with early-stage cognitive
decline or genetic predispositions for these disorders. We do this by
educating and supporting these individuals, utilizing the most recent
scientific knowledge on diet, lifestyle and other key factors for
maximizing brain health and fighting the effects of neurodegenerative
diseases.
Contacts
AFFIRMATIVhealth, PLLC
Denise M. Kalos, 707-800-2302
dmkalos@affirmativhealth.com
Chief
Operating Officer
