James Beck, PhD
James Beck, PhD
As Chief Scientific Officer, James Beck, PhD, sets the strategic direction for the Parkinson’s Foundation research vision. Dr. Beck oversees a portfolio that has guided more than $400 million in research to explore what causes Parkinson’s disease (PD) and how to improve treatments. With the goal of enhancing care and advancing research toward a cure to create a world without PD, Dr. Beck has played an integral role in positioning the organization as a leader in accelerating Parkinson’s research.
Dr. Beck launched PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson's Disease, an international study started by the Parkinson’s Foundation in 2019 that offers genetic testing for Parkinson’s-related genes and genetic counseling at no cost for participants with a confirmed PD diagnosis. This innovative study is directly accelerating precision medicine clinical trials for Parkinson’s while also advancing research and care.
Additionally, he led the team that provided the first updated estimate of prevalence and incidence of PD in the US in nearly 50 years and collaborated with several organizations to ascertain the economic burden of Parkinson’s disease and investigate access to care for people with Parkinson’s. This current and relevant public health data on Parkinson’s was a critical influence on the passage of The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act.
During his tenure, Dr. Beck has worked directly with those living with Parkinson’s to identify and support research of relevance to the PD community. While patient engagement is now seen as the standard, his initial efforts to drive research that reflects the input of the Parkinson’s community was entirely novel. Dr. Beck is firmly committed to ensure that efforts to improve care and advance research continue to reflect the needs and priorities of those living with Parkinson’s to create better lives for the those living with PD.
In addition, he has greatly increased the organization’s impact in the PD community by:
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Becoming the first PD organization to include people with Parkinson’s disease in the research review process
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Tripling the number of applicants for the research grants program
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Becoming the first PD organization with an open-access policy, encouraging broad data sharing including access to published Foundation-funded research to accelerate our understanding of PD
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Launching npj Parkinson’s Disease, an international open-access journal devoted to publishing the most important scientific advances in Parkinson's research
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Acting as co-chair of Parkinson's Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel, the first ClinGen working group for neurodegenerative diseases in adults
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Serving on the Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Dr. Beck has been published in multiple leading journals including npj Parkinson’s Disease, Neurology, Movement Disorders, Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, Genetics in Medicine, and Brain among others. He is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at the New York University School of Medicine. He holds a BS from Duke University and a PhD from the University of Washington, Seattle.
In The News
Many people with Parkinson's are not getting the care they need
Medical News Today
July 11, 2023
A new study on Parkinson's disease care in the U.S. reveals critical gaps and disparities, particularly affecting women, people of color and rural residents. The Parkinson's Foundation estimates that the number of PD cases in the U.S. will rise, while the current shortage of specialists poses challenges in seeking care. James Beck, PhD, SVP and chief scientific officer for the Parkinson's Foundation, is interviewed.
Quality Care for People with Parkinson’s Is Lacking Across the U.S.
HealthDay
July 11, 2023
Parkinson’s Foundation SVP and Chief Scientific Officer, James Beck, PhD, is interviewed to provide insight into a new study shedding like on the lack of quality care for people with Parkinson’s in the U.S., including the ongoing shortage of movement disorders specialists.
Why nearly half of Americans with Parkinson’s don’t see a neurologist
STAT News
July 10, 2023
A study on Parkinson's disease reveals significant gaps in care and disparities faced by patients. In 2019, 40% of Medicare beneficiaries living with PD didn’t see a neurologist for their disease. This article follows the story of Richard Huckabee, who experienced PD symptoms for nine years before receiving a diagnosis. Parkinson’s Foundation SVP and Chief Scientific Officer James Beck, PhD, is interviewed.
Dad diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 45 shares ‘shocking’ first symptoms
NBC’s TODAY.com
April 19, 2023
When Vikas Chinnan, 46, began experiencing stiffness on his right side, he thought it was related to a viral infection he had in his spine as a child. After numerous tests and treatments failed to help, doctors began investigating other potential illnesses, and he was ultimately diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). Read on for Chinnan’s story of diagnosis and the impact of “invisible symptoms.” James Beck, PhD, chief scientific officer for the Parkinson’s Foundation, provides expert insight on YOPD.
U.S. Parkinson’s disease incidence far higher than earlier estimates – study
Reuters
The annual number of new Parkinson's disease diagnoses in the United States is likely 50% higher than estimated, based on a broad analysis of insurance claims and population growth detailed in a new study. James Beck, PhD, co-author of the study and chief scientific officer of the Parkinson’s Foundation, provides extensive commentary.