Roger A. Barker is a British neurologist and researcher specializing in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. His work focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and developing novel therapeutic approaches, including cell replacement therapies and neuroprotective strategies. He has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of dopaminergic neuron degeneration and translational research for Parkinson's disease treatments.
Roger Barker is a Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital. He trained at Oxford and Cambridge universities, completing his medical degree and doctoral training in neuroscience. He leads a research program focused on translating basic science discoveries into clinical treatments for Parkinson's disease. Additionally, he serves as the Director of the Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, where he oversees research on stem cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Barker's research encompasses several critical areas in Parkinson's disease:
- Pioneering work on embryonic stem cell-derived dopamine neurons for PD treatment
- Developing protocols for generating authentic midbrain dopamine neurons
- Leading clinical trials for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease
- Working on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) approaches for personalized cell therapy
- Investigating the spread and mechanisms of alpha-synuclein aggregation
- Studying how Lewy bodies form and propagate in PD
- Exploring immunotherapy approaches targeting alpha-synuclein
- Researching prion-like propagation of misfolded proteins
- Leading numerous PD clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies
- Developing biomarkers for PD progression
- Investigating neuroprotective strategies
- Testing novel pharmacological agents targeting dopaminergic pathways
- Bridging basic science discoveries with clinical applications
- Developing animal models for PD drug testing
- Establishing biomarkers for patient stratification
- Creating consortiums for multi-center clinical trials
- Barker RA, et al. (2017). Fetal dopaminergic transplantation trials
- Barker RA, et al. (2019). Alpha-synuclein and Parkinson's disease
- Barker RA, et al. (2020). Stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease
- Kalia LV, et al. (2015). Parkinson's disease
- Barker RA, et al. (2022). Cell therapy for Parkinson's disease
- Barker RA, et al. (2023). Translating stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease
- Barker RA, et al. (2021). The UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria
¶ Awards and Honors
- Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
- Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences
- Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
- Winner of the Gairdner Foundation International Award
- President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research
- Barker RA. (2017). Developing stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease. Nature Reviews Neurology.
- Kalia LV, Lang AE. (2015). Parkinson's disease. Lancet.
- Tolosa E, et al. (2021). Parkinson's disease. Lancet.
- Barker RA, et al. (2019). Alpha-synuclein and Parkinson's disease: from pathogenesis to therapy. Nature Reviews Neurology.