This Expert Witness is a physician-scientist with expertise in clinical and basic science aspects of movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and essential tremor.  His laboratory is focused on unraveling the molecular and cellular mechanisms of movement disorders, with a major focus on Parkinson’s disease and dystonia.  For each of these projects, he is focused on disease genes that cause these disorders. These studies employ a range of molecular, cellular, and whole animal studies to dissect the normal role of disease proteins, and how pathogenic mutations lead to disease.  His Parkinson’s disease- related research is centered upon the biology of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), the mostcommon genetic cause of the disease. His dystonia work centers around the biology of torsinA, mutations in which cause the most common genetic form of primary dystonia.  His laboratory has made several fundamental discoveries in both of these areas, findings that are internationally recognized for their impact on the how clinicians and scientists view these brain disorders. He also continues to care for patients with movement disorders.

§ Animal Models

§  Basal Ganglia

§  Genetics

§  Movement Disorders

§  Neurodegeneration, Dystonia

§ Parkinson Disease

• B.S., Zoology (cum laude), Duke University
• M.D., Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine