David H. Perlmutter

Perlmutter is an authority on genetic liver disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, caused by a misfolded protein.  His work has led to drug candidates that activate a fundamental cellular recycling pathway, autophagy, which is essential for the health of all cells and declines with aging. These drugs are now being targeted for all aspects of age-dependent degeneration.  In a landmark 2010 study he showed that the anticonvulsant carbamazepine had autophagy enhancer properties and could reverse liver fibrosis in a mouse model of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. He is now positioning Washington University to lead in developing novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease and aging and in personalized medicine.