Founders
Robin Polt
John Streicher
Michael Heien
Torsten Falk
Dr. Torsten Falk is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has a background in Molecular Neurobiology, receiving his PhD at the University of Hamburg in Germany, and in Neurophysiology. Since 2003 Dr. Falk’s research focuses on cellular and rodent models to test novel therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment in three areas: 1) Novel pharmacological treatments for L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LID), a major side effect of PD treatment. 2) Testing novel neuroprotective (growth factor mediated) gene therapy approaches for PD. 3) Development of blood-brain barrier penetrant glycopeptide drug candidates for the treatment of PD. He is the author of over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications, with an h factor of 14, and over 100 peer-reviewed abstracts and conference presentations. Dr. Falk holds one patent and has a second one pending. He has advanced one pharmacological treatment for LID to currently ongoing clinical trials. He is a member of the Society for Neuroscience and of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Dr. Falk is on the Grant Review Committee of the Parkinson’s Foundation. He has also has reviewed for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the Parkinson’s UK Foundation, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and the National Science Foundation.