// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Walter Koroshetz? A neuro guy with a great cortex-pectation.
Walter J. Koroshetz | |
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| Born | Brooklyn, New York, US[1] |
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| Office | 9th director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) |
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| Predecessor | Story Landis |
| Successor | Amy Bany Adams (acting) |
Walter J. Koroshetz is an American neurologist who served as the director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) from 2015 to 2026. During his tenure, he had leadership roles in several major cross-institute programs at the NIH, including the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, aimed at advancing understanding of the human brain through innovative biotechnologies; the HEAL Initiative/Helping to End Addiction Longterm (HEAL) Initiative, the AMP/Accelerated Medicine Programs(AMP) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.
In 2026, Koroshetz was ousted from NINDS, prompting concern in the medical community about the instability and politicization of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the second Trump administration.[3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Koroshetz has said that his interest in the brain began in the eighth or ninth grade after reading about action potentialss and ion channels in a book on psychiatry. He was also influenced by seeing his father's six-month hospitalization due to Guillain–Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disease.[1][5]
Starting in 1971, Koroshetz attended Georgetown University as an undergraduate. During two of the summers, he worked in the laboratory of Jorge Fischbarg, a physiologist at Columbia University. There, he studied ion transport, an interest he continued to pursue at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine [5]in the laboratory of /Dr. Ramon Latorre.
Koroshetz began his residency at the University of Chicago in internal medicine. During his second year, he read a paper by C. Miller Fisher, a Canadian-born neurologist, and decided to move to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where Fisher worked. He completed a second residency there, this time in neurology,[5] followed by postdoctoral studies in cellular neurophysiology in the laboratory of Dr. David Corey. He also did postdoctoral studies in neurobiology with Dr. Edward Furshpan at Harvard Medical School.[6]
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Koroshetz was a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and vice chair of neurology at MGH. He also directed stroke and neurointensive care, and he led resident training at MGH from 1990 to 2007.[2][6] His research laboratory work focused on excitatory toxicity and potential neuroprotective mechanisms. His early clinical research concentrated on Huntington's disease, including genetic testing, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and clinical trials. Later he worked to develop acute neuroimaging via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanning for acute stroke imaging and as a means to identify persons who might benefit from intra-arterial clot lysis. Working within the American Heart Association and the American Association of Neurology he helped to revolutionize acute stroke care across the US.
NINDS
[edit]In 2007, Koroshetz joined NINDS as deputy director, and in October 2014, he became the acting director.[5] During his deputy directorship and acting directorship, he played a significant role in the creation of NIH StrokeNet, a clinical trial network that streamlines the process of running large clinical trials across many hospitals. He also played a large role in the creation of the NIH Office of Emergency Research. He co-chaired the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative,[6] a collaborative, public-private research initiative which is aimed at advancing understanding of the human brain through the development of innovative biotechnologies. Koroshetz has described the initiative, which also aims to help researchers uncover the neurological causes of brain disorders like depression, as "merging the fields of neurology and psychiatry."[1][7]
In June 2015, the NIH named Koroshetz permanent director of NINDS.[5][6] During his time at NINDS, he held leadership roles in initiatives supporting research in many areas, including addiction, chronic pain, ALS, traumatic brain injuries, long COVID, undiagnosed diseases, and somatic gene editing.[2][6]
At the end of Koroshetz's second five-year term, an NIH review panel recommended his reappointment, and NIH director Jay Bhattacharya gave his endorsement. Despite this, under the second Trump administration, the NIH allowed his contract to end on January 24, 2026.[8][3][9] As a result, 40 neuroscience organizations, led by the American Academy of Neurology, sent a joint letter to members of Congress expressing "significant concern" and urging Congress to exercise closer oversight over leadership changes.[10]
Post-NINDS career
[edit]In 2026, Koroshetz became a senior advisor for the Dana Foundation, a philanthropic organization with a focus on the role of neuroscience in society,[11] as well as the Invisible Wounds Foundation, which focuses on military brain injuries.[12]
In an April 2026 interview, Koroshetz expressed concern about whether "good people" would still take jobs at the NIH after the layoffs there. He said it would be "a tragedy" if the leaders of the institutes, which he said had always been nonpolitical, were replaced by political appointees, and expressed a willingness to return to government work if asked by a future administration.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Meet Walter J. Koroshetz, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health. August 27, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Director's Corner". National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Archived from the original on January 1, 2026.
- 1 2 Kaiser, Jocelyn; Cohen, Jon (January 8, 2026). "NIH leadership turmoil adds to politicization concerns". Science. 391 (6781). American Association for the Advancement of Science: 114–115. doi:10.1126/science.aef2600. ISSN 1095-9203. PMID 41505536. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ↑ Masson, Gabrielle (January 2, 2026). "NIH instability grows with exit of longtime neuro director". Fierce Biotech. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Talan, Jamie (July 2, 2015). "At the Helm of the NINDS, Dr. Walter Koroshetz Speaks About New Initiatives". Neurology Today. 15 (13): 18–19. doi:10.1097/01.NT.0000469532.54224.3e. ISSN 1533-7006.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "NIH Names Walter J. Koroshetz, M.D. Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health. June 11, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
- ↑ Szalavitz, Maia (February 19, 2013). "Brain Map: President Obama Proposes First Detailed Guide of Human Brain Function". Time. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
- ↑ Ault, Alicia (January 5, 2026). "Long-Time NINDS Director Walter Koroshetz Terminated". Medscape Medical News. Medscape. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ↑ Wosen, Jonathan (December 27, 2025). "Director of NIH neurological disorders institute is ousted, adding to leadership churn". STAT. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ↑ Askham, Angie Voyles (January 23, 2026). "After NINDS director ouster, 40 neuroscience organizations press U.S. Congress for oversight over hiring process". The Transmitter. doi:10.53053/AJNJ7585. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ↑ Whitman, Ann (February 24, 2026). "Walter Koroshetz Joins the Dana Foundation as Senior Advisor". Dana Foundation. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- 1 2 Catherman, Caroline (April 22, 2026). "After leaving the NIH, Walter Koroshetz worries for its future". Healthcare Brew. Archived from the original on May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
Koroshetz WJ. Happy 75th National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. ( 2025) Ann Neurol 98: 911-912
Marazzo J, Gibbons GH, Koroshetz W. (2024) Initiating Long Covid RECOVERY. Sci Transl Med 16: 773
Tamiz AP, Koroshetz WJ, Dhruv DT, Jett DA. 2022 A focus on the neural exposome. Neuron. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.019
Raizen DM, Mullington J, Anaclet C, Clarke G, Critchley H, Dantzer R, Davis R, Drew KL, Fessel J, Fuller PM, Gibson EM, Harrington M, Ian Lipkin W, Klerman EB, Klimas N, Komaroff AL, Koroshetz W, Krupp L, Kuppuswamy A, Lasselin J, Lewis LD, Magistretti PJ, Matos HY, Miaskowski C, Miller AH, Nath A, Nedergaard M, Opp MR, Ritchie MD, Rogulja D, Rolls A, Salamone JD, Saper C, Whittemore V, Wylie G, Younger J, Zee PC, Craig Heller H. (2023). Beyond the symptom: the biology of fatigue. Sleep 46: 1-13.
Baker RG, Koroshetz WJ, Volkow ND. 2021. The Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Initiative of the National Institutes of Health. JAMA 326: 1005-1006. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.13300
Litvina E, Adams A, Barth A, Bruchez M, Carson J, Chung JE, Dupre KB, Frank LM, Gates KM, Harris KM, Joo H, William Lichtman J, Ramos KM, Sejnowski T, Trimmer JS, White S, Koroshetz W. (2019) BRAIN Initiative: Cutting-Edge Tools and Resources for the Community. J Neurosci. 16;39(42):8275-8284. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1169-19.2019.
Grillner S, Ip N, Koch C, Koroshetz W, Okano H, Polachek M, Poo MM, Sejnowski TJ Worldwide initiatives to advance brain research. Nat Neurosci. 2016 Aug 26;19(9):1118-22. doi: 10.1038/nn.4371
Mott MC, Gordon JA, Koroshetz WJ. The NIH BRAIN Initiative: Advancing neurotechnologies, integrating disciplines. PLoS Biol. 2018 Nov 26;16(11):e3000066. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000066.
Koroshetz W, Gordon J, Adams A, Beckel-Mitchener A, Churchill J, Farber G, Freund M, Gnadt J, Hsu NS, Langhals N, Lisanby S, Liu G, Peng GCY, Ramos K, Steinmetz M, Talley E, White S. (2018) The State of the BRAIN Initiative. J Neuroscience 38:6427-6438
Mott M, Koroshetz W. Bridging the Gap in Neurotherapeutic Discovery and Development: The role of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Translational Neuroscience. (2015) Neurotherapeutics 12: 651-4.
Koroshetz WJ. Time to tackle blood pressure. (2014) Nature S4 510:
Koroshetz WJ on behalf of the NIH Task Force on Research in the Emergency Setting. (2010). NIH and Research in the Emergency Setting: Progress, Promise and Process. Annals of Emerg Med 56: 565-566
Smith WS, Sung G, Saver J, Budzik R, Duckwiler G, Liebeskind DS, Lutsep HL, Rymer MM, Higashida RT, Starkman S, Gobin YP; Multi MERCI Investigators, Frei D, Grobelny T, Hellinger F, Huddle D, Kidwell C, Koroshetz W, Marks M, Nesbit G, Silverman IE. (2008) Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: final results of the Multi MERCI trial. Stroke. 39:1205-12.
Camargo E, Koroshetz WJ, Lev MH. (2007) CTA Source Images versus Unenhanced CT for Acute Detection and Delineation of Infarct Core: Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) Curve Analysis. Radiology 244: 541-8.
Schaefer PW, Hunter G , Julian He, Hamberg L , Sorensen AG, Wu O, Halperin E,Schwamm L, Koroshetz W, Gonzalez RG. (2002) Predicting Cerebral Ischemic Infarct Volume with Diffusion and Perfusion MRI. Am J of Neuroradiology 23: 1785-94.
Ezzeddine MA, Lev MH, McDonald CT, Rordorf G, Oliveira-Filho J, Aksoy FG, Farkas J, Segal AZ, Schwamm LS, Gonzalez RG, Koroshetz WJ. (2002) CT Angiography with whole brain perfused blood volume imaging: Added clinical value in the assessment of acute stroke. Stroke 33: 959-966.
Lev MH, Segal AZ , Farkas J, Hossain ST, Putman C, Hunter GJ. Harris GJ. Hamberg LM,, Chang Y, Koroshetz WJ, Gonzalez RG, Schwamm L. (2001) Utility of perfusion weighted CT imaging in acute MCA stroke treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis: Prediction of final infarct volume and clinical outcome. Stroke 32:2021-2028
Gonzalez RG, Schaefer PW, Buonanno FS, Schwamm LH, Budzik RF, Rordorf G, Wang B, Sorensen AG, Koroshetz WJ. (1999) Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging: Diagnostic accuracy in patients imaged within 6 hours of stroke symptom onset. Radiology 210: 155-162.
Schwamm L, Koroshetz WJ, Sorensen AG, Wang B, Copen WA, BudzikR, Rordorf G, Buonanno FS, Schaefer PW, Gonzalez G, (1998) Time course of lesion development in patients with acute stroke: Serial diffusion and hemodynamic -weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Stroke 29: 2268-2276
Rordorf G, Koroshetz WJ, Copen W, Cramer SC, Schaefer P, Budzik RF, Schwamm L, Buonanno F, Sorensen AG, Gonzalez G. (1998) Regional ischemia and ischemic injury in patients with acute MCA stroke as a defined by early diffusion weighted and perfusion weighted MRI. Stroke 29: 939-943
Sorenson AG, Buonanno FS, Gonzalez RG, Schwamm LH, Lev MH, Huang-Hellinger FR, Reese TG, Weisskoff RM, Davis TL, Suwanwela N, Can U, Moreirf J, Copen WA, Look RB, Finklestein SP, Gonzalez RG, Rosen BR, Koroshetz WJ. (1996) Hyperacute Stroke: Evaluation with combined multisection diffusion-weighted and hemodynamically weighted echo-planar MR imaging Radiology 199: 391-401.
Huntington’s Study Group (Kieburtz K, PI; Koroshetz WJ, Co-PI). (2001) A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Coenzyme Q10 and Remacemide in Huntington’s Disease (CARE-HD). Neurology 57: 397-404.
Koroshetz WJ, Jenkins BJ, Rosen BR, Beal MF. Assessment of energy metabolism defects in Huntington’s disease and possible therapy with coenzyme Q 10. (1997) Annals of Neurology 41: 16-165.
Duayo, MP, Ambrose CM, Myers RH, Movelletto A, Persichetti F, Frontali M, Fostein SE, Ross C, Franz ML, Abbott M, Gray J, Conneally PM, Young A, Penney J, Hollingsworth Z, Shoulson I, Lazzarini AM, Falek A, Koroshetz WJ, Bird E, Vonsattel JP, Bonilla E, Alvir J, Conde J, Cha JH, Dure L, Govez F, Ramos M, Sacnhez-Ramos J, Snodgrass SR, de Young M, Wexler NS, Barnes G, Srinidhi J, Macdonald ME, Gusella JF. (1993) Trinucleotide repeat length: Instability and age of onset in Huntington's Disease. Nature Genetics 4: 387-392.
Jenkins BG, Koroshetz WJ, Beal MF, Rosen BR (1993) Evidence for impairment of energy metabolism in vivo in Huntington's disease using localized 1H NMR spectroscopy. Neurology 43:2689-2695.
Meisner G, Meyers R, Mastromauro C, Koroshetz WJ, Klinger K, Farrer L, Watkins P, Bird E, Martin JB. (1988) Predictive testing in Huntington's disease using a linked DNA marker. New England Journal of Medicine 318: 535-542.
Rordorf G, Koroshetz WJ, Bonventre JV. (1991) Heat-shock protects cultured cortical neurons from glutamate toxicity. Neuron 7: 1043-1051
B.A. Barres, W.J. Koroshetz, L.L.Y. Chun, D.P. Corey. Ion channel expression by white matter glia: The type-1 astrocyte. (1990) Neuron 5: 527-544
Barres BA, Koroshetz WJ, Swartz KJ, Chun LLY, Corey DP. (1990) Ion channel phenotype of white matter glia: The O2A glial progenitor cell. Neuron 4: 507-524.
Latorre, R, Donovan J, Koroshetz WJ, Tosteson D, Gisin B. (1981) Ion transport mediated by the Valinomycin analogue PV-lac in lipid bilayer membranes. J of General Physiology 77: 387-417.
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