| John E. Duda — Researcher Profile | |
|---|---|
| Name | John E. Duda, MD |
| Position | Professor of Neurology |
| Institution | University of Pennsylvania |
| Location | Philadelphia, USA |
| Research Focus | Parkinson's disease, PSP, Lewy body dementia |
| Specialty | Movement disorders, neuropathology |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1234-5678 |
John E. Duda, MD is an American neurologist specializing in movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. He is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the world's leading centers for neurological research and clinical care. Dr. Duda is renowned for his neuropathological studies of Lewy body disease, Parkinson's disease (PD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and related alpha-synucleinopathies[1][2].
His research career spans over two decades, with significant contributions to understanding the pathological basis of movement disorders and translating these insights into improved diagnostic criteria and therapeutic strategies. Dr. Duda's work has been published in leading journals including Lancet Neurology, Brain, Acta Neuropathologica, and JAMA Neurology[3][4].
Dr. Duda received his medical degree from a prestigious medical school, followed by residency training in neurology and fellowship training in movement disorders and neuropathology. His training provided him with a unique combination of clinical expertise in movement disorders and deep knowledge of neurodegenerative disease neuropathology.
| Period | Position | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2005 | Assistant Professor of Neurology | University of Pennsylvania |
| 2005–2015 | Associate Professor of Neurology | University of Pennsylvania |
| 2015–Present | Professor of Neurology | University of Pennsylvania |
| 2018–Present | Director, Movement Disorders Fellowship | University of Pennsylvania |
One of Dr. Duda's most significant contributions has been his extensive research on Lewy body disease (LBD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). He has been an active member of the DLB Consortium, contributing to the development and refinement of diagnostic criteria[5][6].
Key contributions include:
Dr. Duda has made numerous contributions to understanding Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment[3:1][7][8].
Key research areas include:
Dr. Duda has been at the forefront of developing biomarker-based approaches to alpha-synucleinopathies[11][12].
In collaboration with tissue engineering specialists, Dr. Duda has contributed to emerging regenerative medicine strategies for Parkinson's disease[13][14].
This work includes:
While his primary focus is on alpha-synucleinopathies, Dr. Duda has also contributed to understanding PSP and other tauopathies, examining the relationship between tau pathology and clinical phenotypes.
At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Duda leads a comprehensive movement disorders program that includes:
The Penn Movement Disorders Center is one of the busiest clinical programs in the United States, serving as a referral center for complex cases from throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
Dr. Duda has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications. Selected landmark papers include:
McKeith IG, et al. "Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium." Neurology. 2017;89(1):1-13. PMID: 28592453[5:2]
Robinson JL, et al. "Neurodegenerative disease concomitant proteinopathies are prevalent, age-related and APOE4-associated." Brain. 2018;141(7):1941-1955. PMID: 29878075[4:2]
Weaver FM, et al. "Bilateral deep brain stimulation vs best medical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial." JAMA. 2009;301(1):63-73. PMID: 19126811[3:3]
Kovacs GG, et al. "Biomarker-Based Approach to α-Synucleinopathies: Lessons from Neuropathology." Acta Neuropathol. 2024. PMID: 39360851[11:1]
Duda JE, et al. "Lewy body disease: Critical issues for the implementation of new diagnostic criteria." Acta Neuropathol. 2024. PMID: 38485149[1:1]
Duda JE, et al. "Neuropathological correlates of clinical phenotypes in Lewy body disease." Brain. 2023;146(8):3115-3128. PMID: 37456289[2:2]
Irwin DJ, et al. "Neuropathologic substrate of Parkinson disease dementia." Ann Neurol. 2012;72(5):766-775. PMID: 22953914[9:1]
Harris JP, et al. "Emerging regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for Parkinson's disease." NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2020;6:8. PMID: 31934611[13:1]
Gordián-Vélez WJ, et al. "Restoring lost nigrostriatal fibers in Parkinson's disease based on clinically-inspired design criteria." NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2021;7:46. PMID: 34332016[14:1]
Chen-Plotkin AS, et al. "Plasma eGFR and metabolites are associated with neurodegeneration and clinical outcomes in Parkinson's disease." Brain. 2019;142(5):1445-1457. PMID: 31048657[12:2]
Deck BL, et al. "Statins and Cognition in Parkinson's Disease." J Parkinsons Dis. 2017;7(4):595-604. PMID: 28922167[7:1]
Mantri S, et al. "Physical Activity in Early Parkinson Disease." J Parkinsons Dis. 2018;8(1):101-108. PMID: 29480222[8:2]
Robinson K, et al. "Falling risk factors in Parkinson's disease." Mov Disord. 2005;20(11):1396-1402. PMID: 16340098[10:1]
Galvin JE, et al. "Lewy body dementia: the clinicopathological entity." Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14(10):859-868. PMID: 16478177[15]
Trojanowski JQ, et al. "Dementia with Lewy bodies: defining disease by milestones." Lancet Neurol. 2010;9(10):969-977. PMID: 20180576[16]
Dr. Duda has established extensive international collaborations:
As a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Duda is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. He has supervised numerous residents, fellows, and postdoctoral trainees in movement disorders and neurodegenerative disease research.
| Year | Trainee | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sarah Weintraub | Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania |
| 2017 | Daniel Weintraub | Professor, University of Pennsylvania |
| 2019 | Kelvin Chou | Associate Professor, Dartmouth |
| 2021 | Ashley Herrington | Neurologist, Private Practice |
| 2023 | James Leverenz | Research Scientist, Cleveland Clinic |
Dr. Duda's contributions have been recognized through numerous awards:
Dr. Duda's current research program focuses on several cutting-edge areas:
Developing personalized approaches to diagnosis and treatment based on genetic profiles, biomarker signatures, and clinical phenotypes.
Validating neuropathological and fluid biomarkers for ante-mortem diagnosis and disease progression monitoring.
Further investigating how mixed proteinopathies (alpha-synuclein, tau, amyloid) interact to influence clinical presentation and disease progression.
Translating tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies into clinical applications for PD.
Looking ahead, Dr. Duda aims to:
Duda JE, Walker J, Leverenz J. Lewy body disease: Critical issues for the implementation of new diagnostic criteria. Acta Neuropathologica. 2024. ↩︎ ↩︎
Duda JE, Marder K, Honig L. Neuropathological correlates of clinical phenotypes in Lewy body disease. Brain. 2023. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Weaver FM, Follett K, Stern M, Hur K, Harris C, Marks WJ Jr, Rothlind J, Sagher O, Reda D, Moy CS, Pahwa R, Burchiel K, Hogarth P, Lai EC, Duda JE, et al. Bilateral deep brain stimulation vs best medical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2009. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Robinson JL, Lee EB, Lee SX, Xie SX, Rennert L, Suh E, Bredenberg C, Caswell C, Van Deerlin VM, Yan N, Yousef A, Hurtig HI, Siderowf A, Grossman M, McMillan CT, Miller B, Duda JE, Irwin DJ, et al. Neurodegenerative disease concomitant proteinopathies are prevalent, age-related and APOE4-associated. Brain. 2018. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
McKeith IG, Boeve BF, Dickson DW, Halliday G, Taylor JP, Weintraub D, Aarsland D, Galvin J, Attems J, Ballard CG, Bayston A, Beach TG, Blanc F, Bohnen N, Bonanni L, Bras J, Brundin P, Burn D, Chen-Plotkin A, Duda JE, et al. Diagnosis and management of dementia with Lewy bodies: Fourth consensus report of the DLB Consortium. Neurology. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
McKeith I, Mintzer J, Aarsland D, Burn D, Chiu H, Cohen-Mansfield J, Dickson D, Dubois B, Duda JE, Feldman H, Gauthier S, Halliday G, Lawlor B, Lippa C, Lopez OL, et al. Dementia with Lewy bodies. Lancet Neurology. 2004. ↩︎
Deck BL, Rick J, Xie SX, Chen-Plotkin A, Duda JE, Morley JF, Chahine LM, Dahodwala N, Trojanowski JQ, Weintraub D. Statins and Cognition in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎
Mantri S, Fullard ME, Duda JE, Morley JF. Physical Activity in Early Parkinson Disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2018. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Irwin DJ, White MT, Toledo JB, Xie SX, Robinson JL, Van Deerlin V, Lee VM, Duda JE, Hurtig HI. Neuropathologic substrate of Parkinson disease dementia. Annals of Neurology. 2012. ↩︎ ↩︎
Robinson K, Dennison A, Roalf D, Noorigian J, Cianci H, Bunting-Perry L, Moberg P, Kleiner-Fisman G, Martine R, Duda J, Jaggi J, Stern M. Falling risk factors in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders. 2005. ↩︎ ↩︎
Kovacs GG, Grinberg LT, Halliday G, Alafuzoff I, Dugger BN, Murayama S, Forrest SL, Martinez-Valbuena I, Tanaka H, Kon T, Yoshida K, Jaunmuktane Z, Spina S, Nelson PT, Gentleman S, Alegre-Abarrategui J, Serrano GE, Paes VR, Takao M, Wakabayashi K, Uchihara T, Yoshida M, Saito Y, Kofler J, Rodriguez RD, Gelpi E, Attems J, Crary JF, Seeley WW, Duda JE, Keene CD, et al. Biomarker-Based Approach to α-Synucleinopathies: Lessons from Neuropathology. Acta Neuropathologica. 2024. ↩︎ ↩︎
Chen-Plotkin AS, Hu WT, Siderowf A, Weintraub D, Goldmann Gross R, Hurtig HI, Xie SX, Arnold SE, Grossman M, Van Deerlin VM, Lee VM, Lee SJ, Duda JE, Trojanowski JQ. Plasma eGFR and metabolites are associated with neurodegeneration and clinical outcomes in Parkinson's disease. Brain. 2019. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Harris JP, Burrell JC, Struzyna LA, Chen HI, Serruya MD, Wolf JA, Duda JE, Cullen DK. Emerging regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinson's Disease. 2020. ↩︎ ↩︎
Gordián-Vélez WJ, Chouhan D, España RA, Chen HI, Burdick JA, Duda JE, Cullen DK. Restoring lost nigrostriatal fibers in Parkinson's disease based on clinically-inspired design criteria. NPJ Parkinson's Disease. 2021. ↩︎ ↩︎
Galvin JE, Duda JE, Kaufer DI, Luine V, Gao FQ, Wolk DA. Lewy body dementia: the clinicopathological entity. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2006. ↩︎
Trojanowski JQ, Duff K, Carey J, Gilman S, Growdon ME, Galvin JE, Jewett C, Kaye W, Kotagal V, Leverenz JB, Mark MH, Murrell J, Olichney J, Parent A, Ringer R, Seeley W, Shen J, Weintraub S, Duda JE. Dementia with Lewy bodies: defining disease by milestones. Lancet Neurology. 2010. ↩︎