David Ginsburg, MD

Distinguished University Professor of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School

Dr. David Ginsburg received his BA in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University in 1974 and his MD from Duke University School of Medicine in 1978. He completed extensive clinical and research training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School, becoming board‑certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology, and Clinical Genetics. In 1985, he joined the University of Michigan as an assistant professor, where he built a career at the intersection of genetics, hematology, and molecular biology.

Dr. Ginsburg’s research has focused on understanding how the blood‑clotting system works and why it sometimes fails. His laboratory uncovered the molecular basis of von Willebrand disease, the most common inherited bleeding disorder, helping explain why patients bruise easily or bleed excessively. His team also discovered that mutations in the enzyme responsible for processing von Willebrand factor cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare but life‑threatening clotting disorder. Beyond these discoveries, his lab has investigated how blood clots are broken down and how this system contributes to conditions such as atherosclerosis and certain infections. His work has shaped modern understanding of bleeding and clotting diseases and has guided the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Ginsburg has been recognized with some of the highest honors in American science. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society—a combination that reflects exceptional scientific impact. He also served as president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and received its prestigious Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award.