Jessica Rexach, MD, PhD

Dr. Rexach earned her B.A. degrees in Chemistry and Biology at Cornell University in 2003.  She subsequently entered the joint MD PhD program between California Institute of Technology and University of California, Los Angeles, completing her medical degree and doctoral degree in Neuroscience (with a research focus in Chemical Biology) in 2012.  Her graduate work resulted in three first author publications in Nature Chemical Biology.  She completed a medical internship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and residency in Neurology at University of California, Los Angeles.  She subsequently completed a competitive NIH-sponsored joint research and clinical fellowship in Neurogenetics and Neurobehavior at University of California, Los Angeles.  Dr. Rexach is currently an attending physician in the UCLA Neurogenetics Program with clinical specialty in neurodegenerative disorders affecting cognition and dementia.  She is concurrently completing her postdoctoral research training in the laboratory of Dr. Geschwind.  Dr. Rexach’s research uses human genetics and systems biology to understand immune signaling in Alzheimer’s and associated dementias with the goal of developing immune-targeted therapies.

Throughout her education and training, Dr. Rexach has been recognized for excellence in teaching, clinical care, and science.  She has received numerous awards including the August Rose Award for Excellence in Teaching and J. Louis Riehl Research Award from the UCLA Department of Neurology, Leo G. Rigler Award for Outstanding Achievement as a medical intern from Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Emil Bogen Research Prize from the UCLA School of Medicine, and Leo and Berdie Mandelkern Prize in Chemistry from Cornell University.