Eric J. Mallack, MD, MBE, MS

Eric Mallack is a child neurologist and neurogeneticist specializing in leukodystrophies and other inherited disorders. He serves as director of clinical research for the Moser Center for Leukodystrophies at Kennedy Krieger Institute and is an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Recognized for his expertise in adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and other rare neurodegenerative disorders, Dr. Mallack’s clinical work focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of children and adults with leukodystrophies, including the use of advanced neuroimaging, stem cell transplantation, gene therapies and emerging precision medicine approaches.

Dr. Mallack earned his medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine. He completed a Master of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in clinical and translational investigation at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Following residency training in pediatric neurology at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, he completed advanced physician-scientist training through the NIH-supported Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award program at Weill Cornell Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Rare Neurological Diseases.

Dr. Mallack’s research focuses on understanding disease onset and progression in ALD and related leukodystrophies, with the goal of improving early diagnosis and developing more effective treatments. His work has helped define the natural history of cerebral ALD, establish national and international standards for MRI surveillance and clinical care, and advance the use of imaging biomarkers to identify disease before symptoms appear. He has served as principal investigator and site investigator for multiple national and international clinical trials evaluating gene therapies, stem cell-based treatments and novel therapeutics for rare neurogenetic diseases.

Moser Center for Leukodystrophies at Kennedy Krieger Institute

View all trials by this principal investigator.

• “Family speaking up about toddler’s rare disease in hopes of helping others,” WBAL-TV 11 https://www.wbaltv.com/article/toddler-rare-disease-family-speak-up-hope-help-others/70410289 2/23/2026
• “Kennedy Krieger Is Investigating the Mysteries of Rare Diseases” https://www.kennedykrieger.org/stories/kennedy-krieger/kennedy-krieger-investigating-mysteries-rare-diseases 1/19/2026
• “A genetic disease is stealing their toddler. A blood test at birth could have saved her.” The Baltimore Banner https://www.thebanner.com/economy/science-medicine/metachromatic-leukodystrophy-carmen-akras-V6IQU7RLJJAJDKSRJAS4Y3JP4Q/ 12/16/2025
•  “Meet Ayden” Kennedy Krieger Institute https://www.kennedykrieger.org/stories/making-difference/inspiring-stories/meet-ayden 11/28/2025
• In Sickness Podcast, Episode “A Rare, Caring Family.” Interviewed about the medical aspects and research opportunities for patients and families affected by CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy (aka Hereditary Diffuse Leukoencephalopathy with Spheroids, aka Adult-Onset Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids and Pigmented Glia). https://www.insickness.org/podcast/episode/74ca8357/a-rare-caring-family 4/30/2024

• Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, NIH-NINDS K23 Physician-Scientist Award (2021–26)
• Irma T. Hirschl/Monique Weill-Caulier Career Scientist Research Award (2023)
• First Annual Junior Faculty Research Award, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital (2022)
• Global Leukodystrophy Initiative Clinical Trials Network’s First “Young Investigator Pilot Award,” NIH/NCATS U54 Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (2021–22)

• Child Neurology Society, National Research Committee
• American Neurological Association