Rudolph Tanzi is a Professor of Neurology and holder of the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Neurology and Mental Retardation at Harvard University. He serves as the Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital, which is investigating the genetic causes of Alzheimer's disease. He was involved in the study that identified the Huntington's disease gene, he co-discovered the three genes that cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease, he discovered the gene responsible for Wilson's disease, and has collaborated on studies identifying several other disease genes.
Dr Tanzi has co-authored over 340 research articles and is a co-author of Decoding Darkness: The Search for the Genetic Causes of Alzheimer's Disease. He was included among the "Harvard 100: Most Influential Alumni", is the Chairman of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund Research Consortium and serves on over 40 editorial and scientific advisory boards. His success as a scientist has allowed him to take a life-long love of music to the stage, playing keyboard with Aerosmith and the Joe Perry Project.