Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D.

Peter K. Todd, M.D., Ph.D., is the Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology and associate chair for research in the department of Neurology. As a clinician, Dr. Todd sees patients at both the University of Michigan and at the VA medical Center in Ann Arbor. He directs the UM Ataxia clinic where he sees patients with inherited and sporadic Ataxias. He also co-directs the U-M Fragile X Clinic and sees adult patients with Fragile X Syndrome and Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS). He serves as director of the Clinical Neurogenetics Research Program, which aims to improve research and care for patients with inherited neurological disorders. 

As a physician scientist, Dr. Todd’s lab studies the mechanisms by which nucleotide repeat expansions cause neurological disorders with a long term goal of developing novel therapeutics for currently untreatable conditions. His lab has published extensively on Fragile X-associated disorders, such as Fragile X Syndrome and Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) as well as C9orf72 repeat expansions that cause ALS and frontotemporal dementia. More recent studies explore roles for  repeat expansions in more common neurological conditions. His lab has been continuously funded by the NIH and VA since its inception. He has received multiple institutional, national and international awards related his research.

Dr. Todd has given over 100 invited presentations across the world and published over 70 papers on his research. He currently serves as associate chair for research in the department of Neurology where he guides efforts to enhance impactful work aimed at improving care for neurological diseases. Nationally, he serves on the American Academy of Neurology’s research committee, where he directs their annual career development symposium for physician scientists. He also serves on the American Neurological Association professional development committee and their task force on Neurogenetics.