Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally renowned organization with the mission of improving the lives of children, adolescents and adults with disorders and injuries of the nervous system, recently appointed to its board of directors Barbara Slusher, Ph.D., M.A.S, director of Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery and professor of Neurology, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Medicine and Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“We are very fortunate to welcome Barbara to our dedicated, impressive board of directors. She brings a perspective that’s been honed by her substantial background in research and discovery and a track record of prolific innovation, as well as through her lived experience as a parent of a child who has received services at Kennedy Krieger. We are eager to welcome Barbara’s insights to our board as collectively they help us further our mission and vision,” said Dr. Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute.

After nearly two decades of research and development leadership in the pharmaceutical industry, Slusher joined Johns Hopkins University in 2009 to lead the largest integrated drug discovery program on campus. At Johns Hopkins, she and her team identify novel drug targets and translate them into new drug therapies for clinical development. Since joining the university, Slusher has co-founded four new companies, which have raised more than $150 million in funding. She also founded the first International Consortium of Academic Drug Discovery, which has accumulated more than 1,500 members and 150 university-led translational centers.

Throughout her long-standing career in scientific research, Slusher has been the inventor on more than 100 patents and patent applications; published more than 250 scientific articles and reviews; and has assisted in the development of several FDA-approved medicines. She has also served on multiple scientific advisory boards and steering committees including Janssen, Eisai, Inc., Bayer Healthcare-Wilmer JSC, Bluefield Innovations, Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Acceleration Program, American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, Longeviti Neurosolutions, and Ashvattha Therapeutics.

Slusher graduated as valedictorian from Dickinson College with an undergraduate degree in chemistry. She received her doctorate in pharmacology and molecular science from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine while simultaneously earning her master's degree in administrative science from the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business (formerly the Johns Hopkins School of Continuing Studies).

“I’m excited to work further with Kennedy Krieger Institute, which is such a strong partner to Johns Hopkins and such an important leader in pediatric research,” Slusher said. “It’s been exciting to watch the work of its clinicians and researchers over the years, and I’m looking forward to doing my part to enable its continued progress.”

About Kennedy Krieger Institute: 

Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known, non-profit organization located in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region, transforms the lives of more than 25,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies, home and community services, school-based programs, training and education for professionals and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders or injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop, while at the same time pioneer new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit KennedyKrieger.org for more information about Kennedy Krieger.