Giulio M Pasinetti, MD, PhD
img_Giulio M Pasinetti
PROFESSOR | Neurology
PROFESSOR | Psychiatry
PROFESSOR | Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
PROFESSOR | Neuroscience
Research Topics
Aging, Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Inflammation, Memory, Microglia, Molecular Biology, Neuro-degeneration/protection, Neurobiology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Obesity, Oxidative Stress, Parkinson's Disease, Psychiatry, Transcriptional Activation and Repression, Transgenic Mice
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Neuroscience [NEU]
Alzheimer’s Disease
The primary research goals of Dr. Pasinetti's lab is to investigate the biological processes which occur when, during aging, subjects with normal cognitive function convert into the very earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease and then to frank dementia. More recently, Dr. Pasinetti has conducted genome wide association studies to clarify the molecular mechanisms in subjects with type 2 diabetes that might be predisposed to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Veteran Health
Dr. Pasinetti is the Director of Basic and Biomedical Research and Training at the Geriatric Education and Clinical Research at the James J Peters Veterans Affairs, Bronx where he developed programs to train health science students in the field of geriatrics in order to help increase the basic knowledge of aging, transmit this knowledge to health care providers, and improve the quality of care delivered to elders. Collectively, the work of Dr. Pasinetti directly develops research to improve the care and treatment for the aging Veteran population while at the same time training many of the healthcare professionals who will provide that care for years to come.
Drug discovery and repurposing
As Chief of the Brain Institute Center of Excellence for Novel Approaches to Neurodiagnostics and Neurotherapeutics, Dr. Pasinetti has developed novel drug discovery programs for Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Pasinetti is leading a primary translational Center to determine whether interventions which appear to work in the preclinical animal model of the disease also show promise in treating patients who have the disease. Dr. Pasinetti is utilizing innovative, drug discovery, genomic and proteomic technologies, which offer the promise to shed light on largely unseen details of disease causality, onset, and progression. Through the approach of “repurposing currently used drugs for other indications” Dr. Pasinetti is currently identifying new therapies that will provide clinical benefits
Molecular Neuroresiliency
As Director of the NIH funded Botanical Center in Neuroresilience, Dr Pasinetti is investigating certain dietary supplements, in particular polyphenols, against stressful events and clarifying the role of the microbiome at the genomic level in the promotion of cognitive and psychological health. Dr. Pasinetti received a competitive award for $10 million for five years to conduct research under his leadership in the Department of Neurology. The Center will support three major projects which will be conducted through interdisciplinary collaborative efforts from the Department of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and the Friedman Brain Institute. The Center research will lead to safe and efficacious treatments of dietary botanical supplements to promote resilience in response to psychological and cognitive stress.
Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes)
Dr. Pasinetti's laboratory is currently focused on building a model based on genetic and environmental information to predict cognitive decline in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, the study will allow the prediction of the long-term effects of intensive weight loss intervention in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study. The lab will use independent study cohorts from other Biobanks to validate their comprehensive model. These studies will be critical for developing and redirecting efforts for potential therapeutic intervention in a subpopulation of type 2 diabetic subjects who are at high risk for cognitive deterioration.

MD, University of Milan Medical School

PhD, University of Milan

Foundation Queen Sofia of Spain Research Center award on Alzheimer's Disease

Faculty Council Award for Academic Excellence

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives Award

Zenith Award from Alzheimer's Association

Temple Foundation Discovery Award from Alzheimer's Association

Nathan W. & Margaret T. Shock Aging Research Foundation Award of the Gerontology Society of America

Turken Family fellowship from Alzheimer's Association

Los Angeles Chapter

Nathan Shock New Investigator Award of the Gerontology Society of America

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.

Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Pasinetti during 2023 and/or 2024. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Consulting or Other Professional Services: Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership

  • Firstthought LLC
  • Guidepoint Global
  • Proxymm Science

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.