Leanne Young PhD

Leanne Young has joined the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas as executive director of its Brain Performance Institute. A nationally recognized expert in blast injury research, Young previously worked with the Department of Defense’s Combating Terrorism Technology Support Office, the Office of Naval Research, the Medical Research and Materiel Command, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on a variety of projects related to characterizing and preventing traumatic brain injuries in a blast environment.

“Leanne’s experience and her wealth of knowledge will be an incredible asset as we develop and build a nationwide network of leading brain performance solutions,” said Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, founder and chief director at the Center for BrainHealth and Dee Wyly Distinguished University Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. “Her engineering and business background will contribute to advancing our vision to empower people of all ages to unlock their brain potential.” Before joining the Brain Performance Institute, Young ran a division of Applied Research Associates Inc. and helped establish human vulnerability as a core business area for that company. With support from DARPA, she directed the first clinical trials of blast-induced brain injuries, and, in partnership with the Office of Naval Research, she led the development of a computer model for planning the medical response to a blast attack on a ship.