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
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA)
University of Rochester (MD)
AwardsNamed among America's 50 Best Doctors (2012); U.S. News Best Leaders (2025)
Website[https://www.stsiweb.org/ Official site]

Eric Jeffrey Topol (born June 26, 1954) is an American cardiologist, scientist, and author who has established himself as one of the most prominent voices at the intersection of medicine, genomics, and digital technology. As the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, a professor of Molecular Medicine, and Executive Vice-President at Scripps Research, Topol has devoted much of his career to reshaping how medicine is practiced, researched, and delivered to patients. He also serves as a senior consultant at the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.[1] He is the author of four books on the future of medicine—The Creative Destruction of Medicine (2010), The Patient Will See You Now (2015), Deep Medicine (2019), and Super Agers (2025)—all of which became bestsellers.[2] In 2016, the National Institutes of Health awarded him a $207 million grant to lead a major component of the Precision Medicine Initiative, known as the All of Us Research Program, and that funding was renewed in 2023 for $282 million over five years.[3] Named among the Best Leaders of 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, Topol continues to shape the discourse on how artificial intelligence, genomics, and digital tools can transform healthcare.[4]

Early Life

Eric Jeffrey Topol was born on June 26, 1954, in the United States. Details about his early childhood and family background are not extensively documented in publicly available sources. He grew up during a period of significant advances in American medicine and science, and his intellectual interests drew him toward the biological sciences at an early age.

Topol 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 earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.[1] His medical training placed him at a nexus of clinical practice and emerging research methodologies that would shape his career trajectory in cardiology and translational medicine.

Education

Topol received his undergraduate education at the University of Virginia, earning a BA. He then completed his medical degree at the University of Rochester.[1] His training in cardiology and his early exposure to clinical research informed his later career focus on translational science—the effort to convert laboratory discoveries into practical treatments and tools for patients. His medical education during the 1970s and early 1980s coincided with a period of rapid advancement in cardiovascular medicine, including the development of new interventional techniques and pharmacological approaches that would become central to his research interests.

Career

Cleveland Clinic

Prior to his tenure at Scripps Research, Topol held a prominent position at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the leading medical institutions in the United States. During his time in Cleveland, he built a reputation as a researcher and clinician in cardiovascular medicine. His work at the Cleveland Clinic encompassed clinical trials, drug safety research, and advances in interventional cardiology.[5]

One of Topol's most notable contributions during this period involved his research on the cardiovascular safety of certain pharmaceutical products. In a 2004 opinion article published in The New York Times, Topol addressed concerns related to drug safety that had become a matter of significant public and scientific debate.[6] His public stance on pharmaceutical safety, particularly regarding the cardiovascular risks associated with the drug Vioxx (rofecoxib), drew substantial media attention. The New York Times reported on the dynamics surrounding Topol's departure from the Cleveland Clinic in a 2005 article that examined the institution's internal tensions and the broader implications of his drug safety advocacy.[7] Bloomberg News also covered the situation, reporting on the circumstances that led to his departure from the clinic.[8]

Topol was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (then the Institute of Medicine), a recognition of his contributions to medical science and public health policy.[9]

Scripps Research and the Translational Institute

Following his departure from the Cleveland Clinic, Topol relocated to California to join Scripps Health and Scripps Research. He was recruited as a noted cardiologist to strengthen the institution's clinical and research capabilities.[10] At Scripps, Topol founded and became the director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute (originally known as the Scripps Translational Science Institute), which focuses on applying individualized medicine approaches through genomics, digital technology, and wireless health monitoring.[1]

Topol assumed the roles of Professor of Molecular Medicine and Executive Vice-President at Scripps Research Institute, in addition to serving as a senior consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California.[11]

Under Topol's leadership, the Scripps Research Translational Institute became a hub for integrating cutting-edge technologies into clinical practice and research. The institute has been supported by the National Institutes of Health's Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program since 2008. This program aims to promote innovation in medicine and to support the education and career training of future medical researchers. The most recent CTSA funding for Topol's group, awarded in 2023, amounted to $46.8 million over seven years.[1]

Precision Medicine Initiative and the All of Us Research Program

In 2016, Topol received one of the most significant research grants in modern biomedical science when the National Institutes of Health awarded him $207 million to lead a major component of the Precision Medicine Initiative, subsequently known as the All of Us Research Program.[3] This program is a one-million-participant prospective research study aimed at understanding how individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology can influence health and disease. Topol's role involved leading the Scripps Research component of this national effort, which included the collection and analysis of genomic, environmental, and health data from a diverse cohort of Americans.

The significance of this funding was underscored when it was renewed in 2023 for $282 million over five years, reflecting confidence in the program's progress and the continuing importance of precision medicine research.[3] The All of Us Research Program represents one of the largest biomedical research endeavors in the United States, and Topol's leadership of the Scripps component has placed him at the center of efforts to transform how medical research incorporates individual variability into treatment and prevention strategies.

NHS Workforce Review

From 2018 to 2019, Topol was commissioned by the United Kingdom to lead planning for the National Health Service's future workforce. This review, known as the Topol Review, focused on integrating genomics, digital medicine, and artificial intelligence into the NHS's workforce planning and training strategies.[11] The commission reflected the international recognition of Topol's expertise in digital health and his influence on health policy beyond the United States. The review produced recommendations for how the NHS could prepare its healthcare workforce to adopt and effectively use emerging technologies, including AI-driven diagnostics, genomic medicine, and digital patient monitoring tools.

Research and Publications

Throughout his career, Topol has maintained a prolific research output. His bibliography encompasses a vast body of peer-reviewed publications in cardiology, genomics, digital medicine, and translational science.[12] His research has appeared in leading medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).[13]

Topol is also known for his four books that have explored the intersection of technology and medicine:

  • The Creative Destruction of Medicine (2010) — This book examined how digital technology, genomics, and wireless sensors could fundamentally alter how medicine is practiced, arguing that these tools would empower patients and disrupt traditional medical institutions.
  • The Patient Will See You Now (2015) — Building on his earlier work, Topol explored the democratization of medicine through smartphones, wearable devices, and access to personal health data, arguing that patients would increasingly become partners in their own care.
  • Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again (2019) — In this book, Topol argued that artificial intelligence could handle many of the pattern-recognition and data-analysis tasks currently performed by physicians, freeing clinicians to spend more time with patients and restoring the human element to medical care.
  • Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity (2025) — Topol's most recent book focuses on the science of healthy aging, examining medical breakthroughs that may extend healthspan and drawing on evidence-based research to provide guidance on longevity.[2]

All four books became bestsellers and contributed to public discourse about the future of medicine and healthcare.[2]

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine

A significant portion of Topol's recent work has focused on the application of artificial intelligence to medical diagnostics and treatment. In a 2025 interview with WIRED, Topol discussed the potential for AI to analyze retinal scans for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, reflecting his broader interest in how AI-driven tools could transform diagnostic medicine.[14] His advocacy for AI in healthcare extends beyond diagnostics to encompass drug development, clinical decision support, and the management of chronic diseases.

In an interview with the European Medical Journal in December 2025, Topol discussed his vision for reinventing modern medicine through the integration of AI, genomics, and digital health tools.[11] He has emphasized that AI should be viewed not as a replacement for physicians but as a tool that can enhance clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

Longevity and Healthy Aging Research

With the publication of Super Agers in 2025, Topol expanded his public-facing work to encompass the science of longevity and healthy aging. In interviews with KQED,[15] WBUR,[16] and Yale Insights,[17] Topol discussed the scientific evidence behind biological aging tests, organ clocks, and immune system clocks, and how these tools might be used to assess and potentially extend healthy lifespan.

In a July 2025 article for Scientific American, Topol analyzed the rise of biological age tests, examining both the scientific basis and the commercial hype surrounding these technologies. He discussed organ clocks, immune system clocks, and other biomarkers of aging, providing an evidence-based assessment of their potential utility and limitations.[18]

Recognition

Topol has received numerous forms of recognition throughout his career. In 2012, he was named one of America's 50 best doctors, a distinction reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.[19]

He was named a Geoffrey Beene Rock Star of Science, a program that highlights leading biomedical researchers and aims to increase public awareness of the importance of scientific research.[20]

Topol's work has been featured on NBC News' Rock Center program, bringing his research and perspectives on digital medicine to a national television audience.[21]

He has been a guest on the economics podcast EconTalk, where he discussed the economic implications of digital health technologies and their potential to reshape healthcare delivery.[22]

His election to the National Academy of Medicine recognized his contributions to medical science and health policy.[9]

In November 2025, U.S. News & World Report named Topol among its Best Leaders of 2025, describing him as someone who is "ushering in" the medicine of the future.[4]

Legacy

Eric Topol's career has spanned multiple dimensions of modern medicine—clinical cardiology, pharmaceutical safety advocacy, translational research, digital health, genomics, and artificial intelligence. His early work on drug safety, particularly his public stance regarding the cardiovascular risks of Vioxx, contributed to broader debates about pharmaceutical regulation and the responsibilities of physicians to speak publicly about potential risks.

His founding and leadership of the Scripps Research Translational Institute established a model for how academic medical centers can integrate digital technologies, wireless health monitoring, and genomic analysis into clinical research and patient care. The institute's sustained NIH funding—through both the CTSA Program and the All of Us Research Program—reflects the scale and significance of the research conducted under his direction.

Through his four books, Topol has communicated complex medical and technological concepts to a broad audience, contributing to public understanding of how medicine is evolving. His arguments about the potential of AI to enhance rather than replace the physician-patient relationship have influenced discourse in both medical and technology communities.

The Topol Review for the UK's National Health Service extended his influence to international health policy, providing a framework for how national healthcare systems can prepare their workforces for the adoption of emerging technologies. His continued engagement with media outlets, from WIRED and Scientific American to public radio programs, ensures that his research and perspectives reach audiences beyond the academic and clinical communities.

As of 2025, Topol remains active as a researcher, author, and public commentator on the future of medicine, with particular focus on the applications of artificial intelligence and the science of healthy aging.[2][4][11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Scripps Translational Science Institute".Scripps Research Translational Institute.http://www.stsiweb.org/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "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 3.2 "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.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "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.
  5. ↑ "Eric Topol".Cleveland Leader.https://web.archive.org/web/20100213041528/http://clevelandleader.com/print/10675.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Opinion article by Eric Topol".The New York Times.2004-10-02.https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/02/opinion/02topol.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Cleveland Clinic article".The New York Times.2005-12-17.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/business/17clinic.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Eric Topol and Cleveland Clinic".Bloomberg News.https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=apd2ulXqRR9w.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "National Academies announcement".National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.https://web.archive.org/web/20061031035532/http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10182004.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "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.
  12. ↑ "Eric J. Topol Bibliography".Scripps Translational Science Institute.http://www.stsiweb.org/images/uploads/EJTBibliography-May2010.doc.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "JAMA publication by Eric Topol".JAMA Network.http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=15928288.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "How to Be a 'Super Ager' With Dr. Eric Topol".KQED.2025-01-16.https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912652/how-to-be-a-super-ager-with-dr-eric-topol.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: 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.
  18. ↑ "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.
  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".Geoffrey Beene.https://web.archive.org/web/20130602051547/http://www.geoffreybeene.com/rockstars/?page_id=1018.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Rock Center segment featuring Eric Topol".NBC News.http://www.nbcnews.com/video/rock-center/50582822#50582822.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Eric Topol on EconTalk".EconTalk.http://www.econtalk.org/archives/_featuring/eric_topol/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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