National Academy of Medicine elects St. Jude physician and researcher Carsten Bönnemann, MD, habil., to its membership

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) today announced the election of child neurologist and neuroscientist Carsten Bönnemann, MD, habil., to its membership. Bönnemann is the inaugural chair of the Department of Genomic and Translational Neuroscience at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His election to the National Academies represents one of the highest honors in the field of health and medicine. 

Bönnemann joined St. Jude earlier in 2026 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he served as a physician-scientist and chief of the Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Bönnemann’s research focuses on identifying the genetic underpinnings of neuromuscular disorders, such as juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and congenital muscular dystrophy. He also works to advance novel therapeutics for the treatment of these diseases, such as the first in-human intrathecal application of adeno-associated virus gene therapy for giant axonal neuropathy. As a NAM member, Bönnemann joins his colleagues in their mission to shape healthcare research, practice and policies that improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. 

“I am extremely honored to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine. As a child neurologist and translational scientist, I’m thrilled to join the Academy’s efforts in advancing genetic precision medicine for neurological disorders in children,” said Bönnemann. “This election to the Academy is also a tremendous recognition for the mentors, colleagues, trainees, patients and families with whom I have had the privilege to work and grow over the years. I am immensely grateful to them all and inspired to now continue this work as part of the amazing St. Jude team.” 

Building on a legacy of research and care 

As leader of the newly launched Department of Genomic and Translational Neuroscience (DGTN), Bönnemann is advancing the efforts of the St. Jude Pediatric Translational Neuroscience Initiative (PTNI). PTNI aims to address the unmet need for effective treatments for progressive and disabling neurological disorders. DGTN incorporates both the Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease Research (CPNDR), which drives basic and translational research into complex pediatric neurological conditions, and the Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (CENT), which accelerates clinical development of promising treatments. 

Bönnemann earned his medical degree from the Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany; trained in pediatrics in Hamburg and Göttingen, Germany; completed his residency in pediatric neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; and did his fellowship in neuromuscular neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he also completed postdoctoral research studying the molecular genetics of muscular dystrophy. He has received numerous awards, including election to the Association of American Physicians, several NIH and NINDS Director’s Awards, the Muscular Dystrophy Association Legacy Award for Achievement in Clinical Research, and the Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award and George W. Jacoby Award, both from the American Neurological Association. 

“This is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Bönnemann, who has devoted his career to understanding and treating neurological diseases in children,” said J. Paul Taylor, MD, PhD, executive vice president, scientific director, Pediatric Translational Neuroscience Initiative director and Department of Cell & Molecular Biology chair. “We are fortunate to have a physician-scientist of his caliber leading our efforts in translational neuroscience at St. Jude.”