Associate Professor of Neurology
John A. & Ruth R. Jurenko Research Scholar
Associate Director, CNET - Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics 

Professional Background: MD, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minn., 2003
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Office: CIRC 560, 1719 6th Ave S, Birmingham AL 35294-0021

West Laboratory

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Personal Info:
Dr. West joined the Department of Neurology in September of 2007 as an Assistant Professor and the John A. & Ruth R. Jurenko Research Scholar. Dr. West received his undergraduate degree from Alma College and his PhD in Molecular Neuroscience from the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester, MN. He then went on to complete a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute in Los Angeles in the laboratory of Nigel Maidment and a second postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Ted Dawson at Johns Hopkins. Dr. West is a recipient of an NIH/NINDS Pathway to Independence (PI) Award K99/R00.

Dr. West's Lab in the Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics focuses on discovering the biochemical and genetic basis of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorders. To uncover the underlying pathogenic effect of associated genetic variation towards disease susceptibility, a combination of functional genomic and molecular neuroscience techniques is used.

Specialty / Interests
To discover the biochemical and genetic basis of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorders by employing a combination of functional genomic and molecular neuroscience techniques. By uncovering the underlying pathogenic effect of associated genetic variation towards disease susceptibility, we create novel assays and model systems that employ the latest technologies in viral transduction and in vivo systems with the goal of identifying therapeutic strategies.  

Publications