Berislav Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D.

Mary Hayley and Selim Zilkha Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research Director, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California


Over the course of 20 years, Dr. Zlokovic has demonstrated that damage to the blood-brain barrier and microcirculation has a key role in the development of a neurodegenerative process in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Collectively, he proposed that vascular-mediated neurodegeneration may underlie cognitive decline. These discoveries are of exceptional importance to understanding pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. Besides academic interests, Zlokovic is co-founder with Mr. Selim K. Zilkha of three biotechnology companies with a mission to develop new therapies for the aging and damaged brain, including: ZZ (Zilkha-Zlokovic) Alztech, which focuses on development of new therapeutics and diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease and manufacturing of a recombinant lipoprotein receptor for Alzheimer’s disease treatment; ZZ (Zilkha-Zlokovic), Biotech, which focuses on manufacturing recombinant secon-generation analog of activated protein C for stroke; Socratech L.L.C., which focuses on vascular genes and drug screening in Alzheimer’s disease.

Funded Research

These projects were made possible from Cure Alzheimer's Fund support.