Oksana Suchowersky
Adjunct Professor
Department of Medicine
Dr. Suchowersky's research investigates the genetic basis for heritable disorders such as spinocerebellar ataxia and hereditary spastic paraparesis. One area of her studies is testing compounds that may have neuroprotective potential, that is, the ability to slow disease progression.
Dr. Suchowersky is part of the Parkinson Study Group, an international research group which conducts studies to improve treatments for Parkinson Disease. Another of her research projects investigated the use of duodopa (providing levodopa directly into the intestine) to control Parkinson's symptoms. Successful results were translated into a clinical program for people with severe Parkinson disease as an alternative to surgery. She is part of the Huntington Study Group, which is involved in identifying biomarkers and genetic therapies for Huntington disease. Current research includes finding the genes responsible for hereditary spastic paraparesis.
Dr. Suchowersky has published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. She is co-editor of several books, including Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders.
Her research is funded by several national and international organizations including Brain Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Institutes of Health