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Dr. Joel S. Perlmutter is the Elliot Stein Family Professor of Neurology, Professor of Radiology, Neurobiology, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis. He is also Head of Movement Disorders, Director of the NeuroClinical Research Unit, Director, Director of the American Parkinson Disease Association Advanced Research Center for Parkinson Disease, and Director of the Huntington Disease Center of excellence all at Washington University in St. Louis. Joel received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Princeton University and his Medical Degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He completed his Residency in Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine, followed by a Fellowship in the Department of Neurology at WashU as well.
Joel has received many awards and honors in his career, including Eliasson Award for Teaching Excellence, the Outstanding Young Alumni Physician’s Award from the University of Missouri, Mentor of the Year Award from the Women’s Academic Network at Washington University, a Special Recognition Award for Graduate Student Education at Washington University, and the Distinguished Service Teaching Award for Medical Students. Joel is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, a Fellow of the American Neurological Association, and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honorary Society. Joel is here with us today to tell us about his journey through life and science.
Joel’s research interests include development of biomarkers for Parkinson disease (PD), investigations of pathophysiology of PD and dystonia, investigations of dementia in PD, studies of deep brain stimulation and development of new neuroimaging methods. His research spans animal models and patient-oriented research. He was a visiting research registrar with CD Marsden at the Maudsley and Kings College in London. In addition, Joel serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the American Parkinson Disease Association and the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. He is co-PI of the Dystonia Coalition (PI: Hydar Jinnah at Emory), a multicenter U54 for studying focal dystonias. He previously served as head of the Mentoring Committee and member of the Executive Committee of the Parkinson Study Group as well as head of the Standards Committee of the Huntington’s Study Group. He has been a past Co-Chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors of NINDS. Perlmutter served on the Institute of Medicine Committee that wrote the 2009 report on “Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education and Practice.” Joel has published more than 210 peer-reviewed articles. He has had 25 years of continuous NIH funding for his research. Joel is also a member of the Movement Disorders Society, the International Basal Ganglia Society and the Society for Neuroscience. Past activities in the American Academy of Neurology include serving on the Program Planning Committee, the Movement Disorders Section and the Movement Disorders Research Award Subcommittee. He is currently on the Editorial Board of Neurology.