Ali Rezai
Executive Chair, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University
Ali Rezai, MD is a pioneering neurosurgeon and neuroscientist leveraging the latest technology to treat several of the most daunting public health challenges. As the Executive Director of the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, he has created a world-class patient care and research institute caring for patients from all 50 states and 15 countries with neurological and mental health conditions.
His research innovations have generated many breakthrough results, including recently using focused ultrasound to reduce amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s patients, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2024, and covered by the AP, NY Times, and Washington Post. He was also featured in two 60 Minutes segments covering focused ultrasound for Alzheimer’s and severe addictions showing dramatic reduction of substance cravings and use.
He received his BS at UCLA, MD from USC, and neurosurgical training at NYU. After serving in senior positions at the Cleveland Clinic, he led the Neurological Institute at the Ohio State University. He has over 250 publications, 65 patents, and has received numerous awards including the Cleveland Clinic and OSU innovator of the year, the North American Neuromodulation Society Lifetime Achievement Award, and the NIH-HEAL Award for Excellence in Research.
Dr. Rezai is a frequent speaker at medical, scientific and tech conferences and has presented his research to the President of the United States, members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, Secretary of the HHS, NIH Institute Directors, and Governors.
