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I. Genetics:

1. Family studies

 
1. Led clinical part of the project that identified PARK1 (alpha-synuclein) as a PD-related gene.  Continue to follow the affected family clinically.
2. Described multiple other families with high-penetrance PD (inactive)
3. Search for modifier genes that influence PD onset age in PARK1 families (GSTP1 allele effect published)
    
2. Sib-pair and small family cluster studies

 
1. Co-PI of GenePD, an international multicenter whole-genome search.
2. Published multiple linkages to date, including an X-linked locus and a confirmation of our GSTP1 observation in pesticide-exposed patients
3. Now initiating a whole-genome SNP analysis
    
3. “Sporadic” PD

 
1. Collecting repository of our group’s patients for genotype-phenotype correlation,
1. including exogenous exposure data
2. approx. 300 patients and 200 controls collected to date

II. Environmental factors:

1. Have published case-control surveys (inactive), including the first observation that food high in vitamin E have a statistically protective effect
    

III. Clinical drug trials: Three in progress

1. Progressive supranuclear palsy
    
1. Devised and published a clinical rating scale.  Continue to gather natural history and prognostic predictor data.
2. Working on a convenient staging system
3. Descriptive epidemiology:  published first prevalence study of PSP (inactive)
4. Etiologic risk factors
    
2. Published the only two case-control surveys to date
    
3. Working on dietary case-control survey
    
1. Collecting blood samples for phenotype-genotype analysis (in 1-a-3-I, above). 
2. As Research Director for the Society for PSP, I provide administrative oversight for a Whole-Genome Analysis of PSP that is starting soon and will use autopsy-confirmed DNA samples.  If the project later extends to clinical samples, I will probably lead that clinical effort as an investigator.