University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Promotes Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD, to Associate Professor of Psychiatry

We are delighted to announce that Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 

Dr. Pascoal received his MD from Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil. He completed his residency training in neurology at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Dr. Pascoal then went to McGill University for a fellowship in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Upon completion of his clinical training, he undertook a neuroscience PhD at McGill, where he remained for postgraduate research training in neuroimaging at the Center for Studies in Aging. Dr. Pascoal joined the Pitt Department of Psychiatry in 2020. 

Dr. Pascoal’s research focuses on the imaging and fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Pascoal is widely recognized in the field for his methodological work on the validation of the second-generation tau positron emission tomography (PET) tracer MK-6240, in addition to having been the first to show that microglial activation is a key element associated with the progression of tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently principal investigator (PI) of a multi-site longitudinal National Institute on Aging (NIA) R01 study focused on comparing cross-sectional and longitudinal tau measures obtained with the two most widely used tau PET tracers to elucidate the advantages and caveats of their use in research, clinical trials, and clinical practice. In addition, he leads a second R01 focused on comparing three high-performance plasma p-tau epitopes for the detection of Alzheimer's disease to elucidate their performance in research and clinical settings. Dr. Pascoal additionally leads an Alzheimer’s Association grant, and co-leads the fluid biomarker core for an NIA Program Project Grant. 

Dr. Pascoal has received multiple awards and honors, including the Dr. Albert and Pauline Spatz Family Distinction Award, and the Barrett Family Foundation Distinction Award, both from the Alzheimer Society of Canada, as well as the IPN Montreal Neurological Institute Star Award, and the Dale Schenk Alzheimer's Association Roundtable Award.

An excellent research mentor, trainees in Dr. Pascoal’s laboratory work on crucial questions that will further our knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease. His teaching includes providing lectures for graduate students, medical students, residents, and faculty colleagues. 

“Dr. Pascoal is a creative, dynamic, and collaborative physician-scientist. He has established a very innovative and highly productive research program, and greatly contributed to the expansion of Pitt Psychiatry’s Alzheimer’s disease biomarker programs, increasing the prominence and stature of the University’s presence in this field,” said David Lewis, MD (Chair, Department of Psychiatry).

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Pascoal!