Dr. Saykin’s research has been funded by the NIA, NINDS, NCI, NIBIB, and NSF, as well as major foundations. Nationally, he leads the Genetics Core of the NIA Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and participates in multiple NIH sponsored research consortia. His research program focuses on precision medicine for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and for identification of disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. He co-leads parallel research aimed at understanding the neural basis of cognitive effects of systemic therapies for breast cancer. A collaborative group of faculty investigators and trainees led by Dr. Saykin uses integrative analysis strategies to study the relationship among clinical phenotypes, genetic susceptibility, and molecular signatures in complex disease. The extended group employs a range of computational tools including artificial intelligence (deep learning, machine learning) and network sciences (brain connectomics, systems biology and social network analysis).

Dr. Saykin participates in multiple training programs for PhD and MD/PhD candidates and fellows where he is committed to fostering the next generation of translational researchers. He is an author or co-author of over 550 publications and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Brain Imaging and Behavior, a Springer-Nature journal, established in 2006.