David H. Gutmann obtained his undergraduate, graduate (PhD) and medical (MD) degrees from the University of Michigan, his residency training in Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and research fellowship training in Human Genetics with Dr. Francis Collins. He is currently the Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor and Director of the Neurofibromatosis (NF) Center at Washington University.

His laboratory is focused on understanding the genomic, molecular, and cellular basis for nervous system problems affecting children and adults with NF using both human induced pluripotent stem cells and novel genetically engineered mouse strains. They have used these preclinical platforms to study the cellular origins of pediatric brain tumors, immune regulation of cancer growth, neurons as drivers of neoplasia and growth, the impact of germline genetics on phenotypic expression, the role of sexual dimorphism in brain cell function and patient clinical outcome, and the impact of risk factors on pediatric glioma formation and progression.

Dr. Gutmann also founded and directs one of the world’s largest centers focused on NF, trained numerous clinicians and researchers in NF in collaborative crossdisciplinary research, and developed several innovative community-based therapy programs to provide integrated medical care for this population across the lifespan.

Dr. Gutmann has published over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his research laboratory has been continuous funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1993, including two National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R35 Research Program (MERIT) Awards. In addition, he has been recognized for his achievements with numerous awards, including the 2012 Children’s Tumor Foundation Frederich von Recklinghausen Lifetime Achievement Award, a 2017 Alexander von Humboldt Award, the 2019 Society for Neuro-Oncology Abhijit Guha Award, the 2020 American Academy of Neurology Neuro-Oncology Scientific Award, and the 2020 American Association of Neurology triennial George W. Jacoby Award. He is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Neurological Association, the Association of American Physicians, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Medicine, as well as a former member of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Advisory Council.