It showed the methodology of DBS could be applied widely in appropriate medical centers around the world.

  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms?

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) develop problems associated with chronic drug (i.e., levodopa) treatment such as involuntary movements ("dyskinesias") and periods of inmobility ("off" periods) that can be drastically ameliorated with surgery of the subthalamic nucleus. This surgery does not restore dopamine deficiency in the brain (the chemical hallmark of Parkinson’s ) but stops the wrong signals that dopamine deficiency causes. It thus restores the right balance and allows the brain to work more efficiently.

  How did you become involved in this research and were there successes or failures?

I have been involved in critical experimental work indicating the role and value of intervening in the subthalmic nucleus to improve the clinical treatment of PD.

  Where do you see your research leading in the future?

We can now ameliorate symptoms of PD fairly well but disease progression has marred its long-term evolution. I am very interested in advancements in improving early diagnosis to treat PD as early as possible and develop therapies that will halt the progressive nature of PD.