He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and did postdoctoral training at the Wistar Institute and at Stanford University. His research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control normal development and tumor formation in the cerebellum. His previous contributions include identifying Sonic hedgehog (Shh) as the signal that controls growth of granule neuron precursors, isolating a novel population of neural stem cells in the cerebellum, and demonstrating that each of these cell types can serve as cells of origin for the childhood brain tumor medulloblastoma. Dr. Wechsler-Reya is a recipient of the Kimmel Scholar Award, the McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Award and the Society for Neuro-Oncology's Award for Excellence in Pediatrics Research.