The McKnight Brain Research Foundation (MBRF) is pleased to announce Alice Luo Clayton, PhD, as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Luo Clayton is a neuroscientist with more than 15 years of programmatic leadership and strategic advising experience in government and private philanthropy.
Most recently, she served as the Senior Science Advisor at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative. In this role, she contributed to the overall strategy for BRAIN, a program that transformed neuroscience research in its first 10 years by investing more than $3 billion in tools, technology and foundational knowledge to better understand the mysteries of the human brain. Previously, at the Coalition for Aligning Science, Dr. Luo Clayton spearheaded the initial strategic framework of a new initiative for the Sergey Brin Family Foundation.
Dr. Luo Clayton also served as a Senior Scientist at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), the largest private funder of autism research in the U.S., for over a decade. During her tenure, she developed and oversaw multiple successful programs in systems, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience grant portfolios, in addition to SFARI’s Bridge to Independence program.
“Dr. Luo Clayton understands the importance of studying cognitive aging and we are thrilled to welcome her as the first CEO of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation. Her proven scientific acumen and deep expertise in multiple facets of the research ecosystem make her the perfect fit to serve as our inaugural CEO. Dr. Luo Clayton’s strategic leadership will be critical to expanding and deepening our rich 25-year history of supporting research to better understand and alleviate the effects of age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.”
Michael L. Dockery, MD, Chair of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation.
“Understanding cognitive aging is more relevant than ever, and this rapidly growing field is poised for breakthrough discoveries. I’m excited to build on the MBRF’s impressive history, connecting cutting-edge science with practical solutions to help people maintain their cognitive health throughout life.”
Alice Luo Clayton, PhD, CEO of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation
With cognitive changes due to the normal aging process affecting nearly 87 percent of people age 65 and older to varying degrees, the McKnight Brain Research Foundation is the nation’s only private foundation dedicated exclusively to solving the mysteries of the aging brain and helping people achieve a lifetime of cognitive health. The Foundation supports research specifically targeting cognitive aging, age-related cognitive decline and memory loss and works to educate the public on the steps that can be taken to maintain cognitive and brain health.
Dr. Luo Clayton began her research funding career as an AAAS Science & Technology Policy fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health where she focused on programmatic activities in developmental translational research and the Human Connectome Project.
Dr. Luo Clayton was trained as a systems neuroscientist, receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Aston-Jones and completing postdoctoral training at the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the mentorship of Dr. Roy Wise. Her research focused on novel afferent circuitry to the Ventral Tegmental Area and specifying the role of these circuits in circadian rhythms, motivation, and contextual learning.
Working with the Trustees of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, Dr. Luo Clayton will oversee all strategic planning, operations and administration of the organization’s finances, marketing efforts and grants distribution.