ROBERT LEDEEN

LEDEEN--Robert W., Ph.D. Dr. Robert Ledeen, a pioneering scientist in neurochemistry and glycobiology, passed away at 96 on October 5, 2024. Ledeen's groundbreaking work on gangliosides and their connection to neurodegenerative diseases earned him recognition as one of the most prominent figures in his field. Ledeen received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Oregon State University. Following postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago and service in the U.S. Army, Ledeen began his academic career at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, followed by Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he first worked with gangliosides -- biomolecules that defined his life's work. In 1991, Ledeen joined Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, working until a week before his passing. A trailblazer in glycolipid research, Ledeen was the first to establish the role of GM2 gangliosides in Tay-Sachs disease. His later work focused on the role of GM1 in relation to Parkinson's disease. He authored and co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, and his work has been cited in over 9,000 scientific publications. Ledeen's contributions to neurochemistry will endure for generations. Ledeen is remembered for his profound devotion to family. Predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 40 years, Lydia Hailparn Ledeen, Dr. Ledeen is survived by extended family.