Rudy J. Castellani, Jr[1] is professor of pathology at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland, where he also serves as Director of Neuropathology, Director of Autopsy Services, Program Director of the Pathologist's Assistant Graduate Program, and Associate Director of the Pathology Residency Program. Dr. Castellani serves as Chair of the Veterans Administration, Neurobiology Study Section and also sits on the Editorial Board of over 10 leading journals including the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. His the former Vice President (2006–2008) and former President (2008–2010) of the Maryland Society of Pathologists. He is recognized in the field of Alzheimer's disease and prion disease research, particularly for his work on oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, cell cycle re-entry, and genotype-phenotype correlations. With an h-index of 38 and over 200 peer-review articles and reviews that have received over 4,500 citations, he is distinguished as one of the top Neuropathologists in the world. His many honors include the Alzheimer Medal, the Golden Chair Award from the American Association of Neuropathologists, the Wall of Fame award for excellence in teaching at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Educator of the Year from the Michigan State University Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology.
Rudy J. Castellani, Jr, son of Rudolph J. Castellani, Sr (1926–1987); general surgeon and Maureen Diviney (1935-); registered nurse, grew up in Ludington, Michigan, where he attended Ludington High School. He attended Michigan State University and, in 1986, received a B.Sc. with high honors in Physiology, and in 1990, an M.D. with Honors from Wayne State University. After a brief immersion in Internal Medicine, he did a residency in Anatomic Pathology at Wayne State University and a Neuropathology Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. He had since held faculty positions at Case Western Reserve University, Michigan State University, and the University of Maryland where is currently among the most prolific and most cited faculty members on campus.