Stella M. Papa MD

Stella Papa, MD, studies neurodegenerative diseases affecting the motor system, particularly involving basal ganglia dysfunction, such as Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Her work is focused on the pathogenic mechanisms leading to movement abnormalities, and she uses several approaches to study functional and structural alterations of basal ganglia involving electrophysiological and neuropharmacological techniques. In addition, she is interested in experimental therapeutics, and her research is largely dedicated to the excitatory amino acid neurotransmission.
As a principal investigator and co-investigator in several grants, Dr. Papa carried out numerous studies in monkeys with MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. Dr. Papa and her research team are credited with developing the original methods to create a chronic primate model of Parkinsonism that reproduces the characteristics of advanced patients.