Institutions all over the country applied to become a Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center in 2019. The Yale School of Medicine was one of the four research centers chosen. Connecticut Advocates For Parkinson’s of Windsor, CT, is proud to highlight this local achievement, as well as some of the groundbreaking research that’s happening at the university.

Yale: A Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center

The Yale School of Medicine was named a Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center on July 30, and the foundation awarded them $2 million over five years to put toward research initiatives. Recipients were chosen based on their ability to address new aspects of PD research, the novelty of their research, and overall potential to create change through their efforts. 

Clinical Research Spotlights

David Mutuskey, MD

David Matuskey, MD is an assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging, as well as psychiatry and neurology. He is also the medical director of the Yale Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Center. Dr. Mutuskey focuses on Parkinson’s disease as well as other conditions, including Huntington’s disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder. His goal is to develop clinical treatments through neuroimaging. He’s also the recipient of several awards, including a recent Brain & Behavior Research Foundation NARSAD Young Investigator Grant.

Dr. Matuskey is currently working on a neuroimaging study of Parkinson’s disease, which will use MRI and PET scans to monitor symptoms and develop new treatments. 

Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD

Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD is another Yale researcher focusing on Parkinson’s research. She is currently working on a mental imagery study. Mental imagery refers to the brain’s way of forming pictures, and Dr. Tinaz is investigating its potential for brain training. The study will use MRI scans and mental imagery tasks, and researchers will use the date to investigate motor and cognitive performance. 

If you’re interested in learning more about local research at Yale and other locations around the state, consider volunteering with Connecticut Advocates for Parkinson’s. This non-profit 501(c)(3) charity is proud to support individuals with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. They also provide educational opportunities, clinical trial transportation, support groups, and more. You can learn more about their initiatives online or by calling (860) 266-6040.