Eric Topol

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Eric Topol
BornEric Jeffrey Topol
26 6, 1954
NationalityAmerican
OccupationCardiologist, scientist, author
TitleFounder and Director, Scripps Research Translational Institute; Executive Vice-President, Scripps Research Institute
EmployerScripps Research Institute
Known forDigital medicine, precision medicine, artificial intelligence in healthcare, Vioxx safety research
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)
University of Rochester (MD)
AwardsNamed to "Best Leaders 2025" by U.S. News & World Report; Geoffrey Beene Foundation Rock Stars of Science; Named one of the nation's 50 best doctors
Website[https://www.stsiweb.org/ Official site]

Eric Jeffrey Topol (born June 26, 1954) is an American cardiologist, scientist, and author who has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in the transformation of medicine through digital technology, genomics, and artificial intelligence. As the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, Topol has led large-scale federally funded research programs aimed at reshaping how medicine is practiced, including a central role in the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program, a precision medicine initiative involving one million Americans. He serves concurrently as a professor of molecular medicine and executive vice-president at Scripps Research Institute, as well as a senior consultant at the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Scripps Clinic.[1] Topol is the author of four bestselling books on the future of medicine: The Creative Destruction of Medicine (2010), The Patient Will See You Now (2015), Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again (2019), and Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity (2025).[2] He was commissioned by the United Kingdom government from 2018 to 2019 to lead planning for the National Health Service's future workforce, integrating genomics, digital medicine, and artificial intelligence into the NHS framework. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report named Topol to its "Best Leaders" list, describing him as ushering in the medicine of the future.[3]

Early Life

Eric Jeffrey Topol was born on June 26, 1954. He grew up in the United States and pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree.[4]

Topol trained as a cardiologist, a specialization that would form the foundation of his career in both clinical medicine and research. His early medical career was centered on cardiovascular disease, a field in which he became a noted practitioner and researcher before expanding his focus to encompass genomics, digital health technologies, and the broader application of technology to clinical medicine.

Education

Topol received his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then attended the University of Rochester, where he completed his Doctor of Medicine degree. His medical training in cardiology positioned him for a career at the intersection of clinical cardiovascular medicine and translational research, disciplines that would define his professional trajectory over the following decades.

Career

Cleveland Clinic

Before joining Scripps, Topol held a prominent position at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the leading medical institutions in the United States. During his tenure there, he built a reputation as a leading cardiologist and researcher in cardiovascular medicine. His bibliography from this period and beyond includes an extensive body of published scientific work.[5]

Topol became a nationally recognized figure during his time at the Cleveland Clinic through his involvement in the controversy surrounding the drug Vioxx (rofecoxib), manufactured by Merck & Co. In October 2004, Topol published an opinion piece in The New York Times raising concerns about the cardiovascular risks associated with Vioxx, contributing to the public discourse that followed Merck's voluntary withdrawal of the drug from the market.[6] Topol's outspoken criticism of the drug and the regulatory processes surrounding it drew significant media attention and established him as a physician willing to challenge pharmaceutical industry practices in the interest of patient safety.

The aftermath of the Vioxx controversy had professional consequences for Topol at the Cleveland Clinic. A December 2005 article in The New York Times reported on developments involving Topol and the institution, documenting tensions that arose in the wake of his public stance on the drug safety issue.[7] Bloomberg News also covered the situation, reporting on the broader implications of the dispute for the medical establishment.[8]

Move to Scripps

Topol subsequently left the Cleveland Clinic and relocated to California, where he joined Scripps Health and Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla. As reported at the time of his appointment, Topol was described as a "noted cardiologist" joining the Scripps system.[9] At Scripps, Topol founded the Scripps Research Translational Institute (originally known as the Scripps Translational Science Institute), which he has directed since its inception. He also assumed the roles of professor of molecular medicine and executive vice-president at Scripps Research Institute, as well as senior consultant at the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Scripps Clinic.[1]

The Scripps Research Translational Institute under Topol's leadership has become a hub for research into translational medicine, focusing on bringing laboratory discoveries into clinical practice. The institute has been supported by the National Institutes of Health's Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program since 2008, with Topol serving as the principal investigator for the Scripps hub. The CTSA program is aimed at promoting innovation in medicine and advancing the education and career training of future medical researchers. The most recent CTSA funding cycle, awarded in 2023, provided $46.8 million over seven years.[10]

Precision Medicine and the All of Us Research Program

In 2016, Topol was awarded a $207 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to lead a significant component of the Precision Medicine Initiative, subsequently known as the All of Us Research Program.[11] The All of Us Research Program is a large-scale prospective research program enrolling one million Americans, designed to advance precision medicine by collecting data on genetics, environment, and lifestyle to better understand how individual differences affect health and disease.

This grant represented one of the largest individual research awards in the biomedical sciences and underscored Topol's central role in the precision medicine movement in the United States. In 2023, the funding was renewed at an increased level of $282 million over five years, reflecting the continued scope and significance of the research program.[10]

UK National Health Service Review

From 2018 to 2019, Topol was commissioned by the United Kingdom government to lead a review of the National Health Service's future workforce needs in light of emerging technologies. The Topol Review, as it became known, focused on integrating genomics, digital medicine, and artificial intelligence into the NHS, and it provided a framework for preparing the healthcare workforce for the adoption of these technologies. This appointment reflected Topol's international standing as an authority on digital medicine and the application of technology to healthcare systems.

Books and Authorship

Topol has authored four books on the future of medicine, each of which has become a bestseller:

  • The Creative Destruction of Medicine (2010) — explored how digital technologies, wireless sensors, and genomics were poised to reshape medical practice.
  • The Patient Will See You Now (2015) — argued for the democratization of medicine through technology, envisioning a future in which patients have greater access to and control over their own medical data.
  • Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again (2019) — examined the potential of artificial intelligence to improve the accuracy of diagnoses, reduce medical errors, and, paradoxically, restore the human element to the physician-patient relationship by freeing doctors from routine tasks.
  • Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity (2025) — distills current scientific evidence on longevity and healthy aging, covering medical breakthroughs that may extend healthspan.[2]

The publication of Super Agers in 2025 generated extensive media coverage and speaking engagements. Topol discussed the book's themes in interviews with KQED,[12] WIRED,[13] Scientific American,[14] Yale Insights,[15] WBUR,[16] and the European Medical Journal.[10] In these interviews, Topol discussed topics including the rise of biological age tests, the potential of AI to diagnose diseases such as Alzheimer's through retinal imaging, and evidence-based approaches to extending healthspan.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Medicine Advocacy

A recurring theme throughout Topol's career at Scripps has been his advocacy for the integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies into medical practice. His work has examined how AI can be applied to diagnostics, including the use of retinal imaging and other non-invasive technologies for the early detection of diseases. In a December 2025 interview with WIRED, Topol discussed the potential for AI to analyze retinal scans to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease, reflecting his broader interest in the application of machine learning to clinical medicine.[13]

Topol has spoken publicly and in media appearances, including on NBC News,[17] and on the podcast EconTalk,[18] about the transformation of medicine through technology. His public communication efforts have been directed at both professional and general audiences, seeking to convey the implications of genomics, wireless health monitoring, and AI for patients and healthcare providers alike.

Recognition

Topol's contributions to medicine and medical research have been recognized through multiple awards and honors. In 2012, he was named one of the nation's 50 best doctors, as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.[19]

He was also recognized by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation as one of its "Rock Stars of Science," a program designed to raise the public profile of medical researchers.[20]

In 2004, Topol was recognized by the National Academies, which noted his contributions to medicine and research.[21]

In November 2025, U.S. News & World Report named Topol to its "Best Leaders 2025" list, describing him as someone ushering in the medicine of the future.[3] This recognition reflected both his research accomplishments and his role as a public communicator about the transformation of healthcare through technology and science.

Topol's publication record is extensive, encompassing hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, editorials, and book chapters across cardiology, genomics, digital medicine, and artificial intelligence in healthcare.[22]

Legacy

Eric Topol's career spans the transition of modern medicine from an era dominated by traditional clinical approaches to one increasingly shaped by genomics, digital health, and artificial intelligence. Through his leadership of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, his stewardship of major NIH-funded research programs including the All of Us Research Program, and his authorship of four books on the future of medicine, Topol has contributed to shaping the discourse around precision medicine and the democratization of healthcare.

His role in the Vioxx controversy established him as a physician who prioritized patient safety over institutional and industry considerations, a stance that influenced subsequent discussions about drug safety and regulatory oversight. His move from the Cleveland Clinic to Scripps marked a shift toward translational research and digital medicine that has defined the second phase of his career.

The Topol Review for the UK National Health Service represented an extension of his influence beyond the United States, providing a framework for one of the world's largest healthcare systems to prepare its workforce for the integration of emerging technologies.

As director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute and principal investigator on grants totaling hundreds of millions of dollars from the NIH, Topol has played a substantive role in the infrastructure of precision medicine research in the United States. His public engagement through books, media appearances, and interviews has contributed to broader public understanding of how artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital technologies are reshaping clinical medicine.

In a 2025 interview with the European Medical Journal, Topol discussed his vision for the future of medicine, emphasizing the integration of AI and genomics into clinical practice and the potential for these technologies to improve patient outcomes and extend healthy lifespan.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Scripps Research Translational Institute".Scripps Research Translational Institute.http://www.stsiweb.org/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Eric Topol authors book on the science of healthy aging".Scripps Research.2025-05-06.https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2025/20250506-topol-super-agers.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Best Leaders 2025: Eric Topol".U.S. News & World Report.2025-11-17.https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/articles/best-leaders-2025-eric-topol.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Eric Topol profile".Cleveland Leader.https://web.archive.org/web/20100213041528/http://clevelandleader.com/print/10675.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Eric J. Topol Bibliography".Scripps Translational Science Institute.http://www.stsiweb.org/images/uploads/EJTBibliography-May2010.doc.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ TopolEricEric"Good Riddance to a Bad Drug".The New York Times.2004-10-02.https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/02/opinion/02topol.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Cleveland Clinic and Topol".The New York Times.2005-12-17.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/business/17clinic.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Topol and Cleveland Clinic".Bloomberg News.https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=apd2ulXqRR9w.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Noted Cardiologist Eric J. Topol Comes to Scripps".Scripps Health.http://www.scripps.org/news_items/2854-noted-cardiologist-eric-j-topol-comes-to-scripps.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Reinventing Modern Medicine: Interview with Eric Topol".European Medical Journal.2025-12-15.https://www.emjreviews.com/innovations/article/reinventing-modern-medicine-interview-with-eric-topol/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "NIH expands grant to Scripps-led precision medicine group to $207M".MobiHealthNews.http://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/nih-expands-grant-scripps-led-precision-medicine-group-207m.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "How to Be a 'Super Ager' With Dr. Eric Topol".KQED.2026-01.https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912652/how-to-be-a-super-ager-with-dr-eric-topol.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Can AI Look at Your Retina and Diagnose Alzheimer's? Eric Topol Hopes So".WIRED.2025-12-04.https://www.wired.com/story/big-interview-event-eric-topol-super-agers/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "A Longevity Expert Breaks Down the Science and Hype of Biological Aging Tests".Scientific American.2025-07-14.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-new-biological-age-clocks-say-about-longevity-according-to-eric-topol/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Eric Topol: The Keys to Healthy Aging".Yale Insights.2025-09-11.https://insights.som.yale.edu/podcasts/health-veritas/eric-topol-the-keys-to-healthy-aging.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "What we know about the secrets to aging well, according to a longevity researcher".WBUR.2025-07-22.https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/07/22/eric-topol-super-agers-longevity-on-point-newsletter.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Eric Topol on Rock Center".NBC News.http://www.nbcnews.com/video/rock-center/50582822#50582822.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Eric Topol on EconTalk".EconTalk.http://www.econtalk.org/archives/_featuring/eric_topol/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Eric Topol named one of nation's 50 best doctors".San Diego Union-Tribune.2012-04-21.https://web.archive.org/web/20120519131732/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/21/eric-topol-named-one-nations-50-best-doctors/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Geoffrey Beene Rock Stars of Science — Eric Topol".Geoffrey Beene Foundation.https://web.archive.org/web/20130602051547/http://www.geoffreybeene.com/rockstars/?page_id=1018.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "National Academies News".National Academies.https://web.archive.org/web/20061031035532/http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10182004.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Eric J. Topol Bibliography".Scripps Translational Science Institute.http://www.stsiweb.org/images/uploads/EJTBibliography-May2010.doc.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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