Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences

Edward Koo, MD, touched so many of our lives and inspired us with his science, his insight, his kindness, his humor, and more recently with his remarkable bravery and positive attitude in the face of health struggles due to cancer.

Eddie made an indelible impact on our UCSD Department of Neurosciences and our Alzheimer’s program, and he was a central and beloved figure within the Alzheimer’s community nationally and internationally. A proud Amherst grad, Eddie, went on to medical school at Duke and stayed after graduation for some postgraduate training in pathology followed by neurology residency at UCSF. He then trained in neuropathology at Johns Hopkins under Don Price, where he gained complementary skills that would serve him and our center well in his later work and mentorship in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. He spent early years as faculty at Harvard and Brigham and Women’s, where he served as a neurologist and neuropathologist with a primary appointment in Pathology before moving to UC San Diego as an Associate Professor in 1996. He played critical leadership roles in the NIH-funded UCSD ADRC from 1997 onward.

 Eddie’s work was key in the early characterizations of Amyloid Precursor Protein processing and trafficking, and his research contributed significantly to our understanding of Amyloid beta production, the biology and modulation of gamma-secretase, and the pathways that contribute to cell death and neurodegeneration.  He was a renowned mentor and leader within the Beeson Career Development Award program, and he provided dedicated service to many journals and review committees. He led the Alzheimer grant reviews of  the Brightfocus Foundation for over a decade, where his oversight of  grant review meetings was often paired with his arranging a memorable round of golf with Alzheimer’s colleagues at beautiful and challenging courses.

 These many facets of his dedication to science, colleagues, mentees, family and friends and his love of life will provide some of the most indelible memories amongst all those we have of Eddie. It’s devastating to think of a world without him, but his great impact on the field and on us will endure as a blessing.

 In recognition and memory of Eddie, our department, ADRC, and development office have worked together to initiate the establishment of an Endowed Dissertation Award in his name. With this funding, future graduates of our PhD programs, whose outstanding work in Neurosciences is deemed worthy of such an award, will carry forward his name in their CVs and biosketches throughout their careers. If you feel compelled to join us in honoring his memory in this manner, please consider sending a donation to the fund as described below.

 The Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences. 

For those who wish to contribute please make your check payable to UC San Diego Foundation and note in the memo Fund #E7852 / Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences.  

Mail to:  

UC San Diego Foundation
9500 Gilman Drive #0940

La Jolla, CA 92093-0940

ONLINE: giveto.ucsd.edu/giving/home/gift-referral/f62aae77-2cc7-4501-a7b7-d955037291ca

Please reference: UC San Diego Foundation and note in the memo Fund #E7852 / Edward Koo Dissertation Award in Neurosciences.