Buck Institute Announces Senior Management Change

The Buck Institute for Age Research, the only independent research facility in the United States focused solely on aging and age-related diseases, announced today that Dale Bredesen, MD, will discontinue his duties as CEO to spend more time on a private start-up  health promotion and disease prevention company that he recently co-founded.  Dr. Bredesen will remain closely involved with the Institute by continuing to lead and run one of its primary laboratories focused on Alzheimer’s disease research.  He also will assist in the search for his replacement now underway.

“Dale’s efforts and leadership have turned a fledgling research effort into a world-class institute that is successfully tackling the greatest biomedical challenge of our time – addressing chronic disease through the common lens of age,” said E. Lewis Reid, Chair of the Buck Institute Board of Trustees.  “We wish him the very best and appreciate his continued commitment to realizing the long-term vision of the Institute by remaining on our team as a principal investigator of his lab and helping us find the most suitable replacement as CEO.”

Dr. Bredesen was the founding CEO of the Buck Institute 10 years ago.  In 2005, the National Institute of Aging designated the Buck a Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Biology of Aging, making it one of just five so designated centers in the country.  The Institute has grown to 15 laboratories and is currently recruiting scientists to increase its research staff to 25 laboratories.  Last year, the Institute was awarded a $25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new scientific discipline called Geroscience, which is focused on the intersection of aging and chronic disease.

“I began research because I was appalled that there was nothing I could do for my Alzheimer’s patients and my passion to find treatments for this devastating disease remains unchanged,” said Dr. Bredesen, who is a neurologist.  “While I plan to continue my research to achieve this goal at the Buck, I look forward to having more time to build a company that helps people optimize their health.  My tenure at the Buck has reinforced my belief that increasing the healthy years of life is rooted in prevention and health promotion.”