Matthew Kennedy, PhD
Primary tabs
JAD profile
Affiliation(s):
Merck Research Laboratories
ORCID URL:
Areas of Interest:
pharmacology, disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease
Biography & Research:
Matt is a pharmacologist focused on the discovery of novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. He joined the Schering-Plough Research Institute where he co-led the BACE inhibitor discovery leading to the discovery and progression of multiple clinical candidates including verubecestat (MK-8931) that is currently in Phase 3 development for prodromal AD. In 2014, Matt moved to Merck Research Labs in Boston, MA and established a Neuroscience early discovery group. This group is focused on new Alzheimer’s disease therapies targeting pathological tau and neuroinflammatory pathways aimed to complement BACE inhibition. The team also has discovered industry leading LRRK2 kinase inhibitors with the aim to test if chronic LRRK2 inhibition will benefit LRRK2-G2019S PD patients. Matt is a graduate of Villanova University (B.S. Biology) and Vanderbilt University (Ph.D. Pharmacology) where he received his PhD studying the structure and function of G-protein coupled receptors. As a post-doc at the Mayo Clinic and at Boston Children's Hospital he defined molecular elements critical for G-protein-gated ion channel assembly and function.
