Mount St. Mary’s University alumnus David Ginty, a renowned Harvard neuroscientist whose research explores touch and pain sensation in autism, has been named co-director of Harvard Medical School’s new $30 million Brain-Body Center.
Mount St. Mary’s University alumnus David Ginty, Ph.D., C'84, a leading neuroscientist and director of the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, has been named co-director of Harvard’s newly established Brain-Body Center, a research initiative made possible by a $30 million philanthropic gift.
The new center will explore the connections between the brain and the body—an area of science with potential for understanding a range of human experiences and disorders, from pain perception to emotional regulation.
Ginty’s work focuses on the biology of touch and pain sensation, particularly how these sensory pathways function differently in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. His research has helped reveal how the nervous system processes tactile information and how changes in these mechanisms affect behavior and perception.
A proud graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University, Ginty has long been recognized as one of the Mount’s most distinguished alumni in the sciences. His academic journey from the Mount’s classrooms and laboratories to Harvard’s leadership exemplifies the university’s mission to cultivate curiosity, integrity, and a lifelong passion for discovery.
“Ginty’s accomplishments are a source of immense pride for the Mount community,” said Christine McCauslin, Dean of both the School of Science, Mathematics, & Technology and School of Health Professions. “His leadership in neuroscience and his commitment to advancing our understanding of the human experience truly embody the Mount’s values.”
The establishment of the Brain-Body Center marks an exciting new chapter for neuroscience research at Harvard, bringing together experts in biology, psychology and medicine to uncover how the brain interacts with the rest of the body in both health and disease.