Fall / Winter 2022 | Fellowships 15
For people with PD , the best doctor is a movement disorder specialist , a Parkinson ’ s expert who will listen and care for you as a whole person .
opportunity for fellowship alumni aims to support an individual ’ s trajectory to independent scientific investigator who can propel Parkinson ’ s research forward .
The 2022 awardees are Conor Fearon , BE , MB , PhD , fellowship class of 2022 , and Anne Weissbach , MD , fellowship class of 2020 . Each will receive a $ 50,000 grant to support a two-year research project on Parkinson ’ s and related disorders . ( See box .)
As both physicians and scientists , Edmond J . Safra Fellowship graduates rely on their relationships with people and families living with Parkinson ’ s to inform research toward meeting the most pressing needs . Fearon describes , “ We follow patients to understand their journey , interacting with them closely and getting to know them . That collaboration is what helps bring out our understanding of the disease . In that way , I think movement disorders is unlike any other field of medicine .”
The Inaugural Edmond J . Safra Movement Disorders Research Career Development Awards
Conor Fearon , BE , MB , PhD
Consulting neurologist ; Dublin Neurological Institute ; Dublin , Ireland
Combining his expertise in electrical engineering and movement disorders , Fearon aims to develop quantitative , noninvasive biomarkers to diagnose and track Parkinson ’ s and related diseases by analyzing eye movements and pupillary changes . He anticipates his findings will improve diagnosis and enhance research of Parkinson ’ s .
Anne Weissbach , MD
Junior Group Leader ; Movement Disorders Unit ; Institute of Neurogenetics Lübeck ; Lübeck , Germany
Using non-invasive brain stimulation , Weissbach will evaluate unique brain signals in people with inherited Parkinson-dystonia syndromes , diseases with symptoms of both PD and dystonia , a muscle cramping that can be part of PD or a condition on its own . She hopes this work will lead to better understanding of and treatments for Parkinson ’ s and dystonia .