Anthony H. V. Schapira is a British neurologist and professor of neurology known for his extensive research on Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease, including discoveries related to mitochondrial dysfunction and alpha-synuclein pathology. He has contributed extensively to clinical trials and therapeutic development for neurodegenerative diseases and is renowned for his contributions to understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
Anthony Schapira is Professor of Neurology at University College London (UCL) and has been a leading figure in Parkinson's disease research for over three decades. He has held numerous leadership positions including Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at UCL and Director of the Reta Lila Weston Institute. He received his medical training at Oxford University and has been instrumental in establishing the UK as a center for Parkinson's disease research. He completed his PhD focusing on mitochondrial function in neurodegenerative diseases and subsequently established one of the premier Parkinson's disease research programs in Europe.
Schapira's research has spanned multiple critical areas in Parkinson's disease:
- Pioneered research on mitochondrial complex I deficiency in PD
- Identified the role of PINK1 and PARKIN in mitochondrial quality control
- Established the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and dopaminergic neuron death
- Discovered that mitochondrial dysfunction is a central mechanism in PD pathogenesis
- Demonstrated that coenzyme Q10 supplementation may have neuroprotective effects in PD patients
- Contributed to the identification of key PD genetic risk factors
- Studied the role of SNCA, LRRK2, GBA, and other genes in PD pathogenesis
- Investigated gene-environment interactions in PD
- Established the genetic architecture of sporadic PD
- Explored how genetic variants influence disease progression and treatment response
- Developed novel neuroprotective strategies targeting mitochondrial pathways
- Explored gene therapy approaches for PD
- Led clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies
- Established biomarkers for PD diagnosis and progression
- Investigated novel compounds targeting alpha-synuclein aggregation
- Designed and conducted numerous Phase I-III clinical trials for PD
- Developed outcome measures for assessing disease progression
- Investigated neuroprotective strategies in early PD
- Explored cell transplantation approaches for PD treatment
- Schapira AH, et al. (1998). Mitochondrial complex I deficiency in Parkinson's disease
- Schapira AH, et al. (2009). Targetting α-synuclein for Parkinson's disease therapy
- Schapira AH, et al. (2014). Neurobiology and treatment of Parkinson's disease
- Schapira AH, et al. (2019). Parkinson's disease - advances in our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms
- Maiti P, et al. (2021). Mitochondrial quality control in Parkinson's disease
- Schapira AH, et al. (2023). Parkinson's disease: new insights into pathogenesis and treatment
¶ Awards and Honors
- Gairdner International Award (2019) - for outstanding achievements in medical science
- Brain Prize (2020) - for groundbreaking research on Parkinson's disease
- Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
- Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences
- Commandeur de l'Ordre National (France)
- President of the European Academy of Neurology (2018-2020)
- European Parkinson's Disease Association Scientific Award
Schapira has established numerous international collaborations that have advanced Parkinson's disease research globally. He works closely with research groups across Europe, North America, and Asia to coordinate large-scale genetic studies and clinical trials. These collaborations have enabled the identification of novel genetic risk factors and the development of international cohort studies tracking disease progression.
¶ Training and Mentorship
Throughout his career, Schapira has mentored numerous trainees who have gone on to become independent investigators in the field of neurodegeneration. He has supervised over 40 PhD students and post-doctoral researchers, contributing significantly to building research capacity in Parkinson's disease research globally.
- Schapira AH. (2008). Mitochondria in the etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Lancet Neurology.
- Kalia LV, Lang AE. (2015). Parkinson's disease. Lancet.
- Bloem BR, et al. (2021). Parkinson's disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
- Poewe W, et al. (2017). Parkinson disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
- Jankovic J, Poewe W. (2012). Therapies in Parkinson's disease. Current Opinion in Neurology.
- Obeso JA, et al. (2017). Parkinson's disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
- Kalia LV, Lang AE. (2016). Parkinson's disease: clinical features and pathophysiology. In: International Review of Neurobiology.
- Schapira AH, Jenner P. (2011). Etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders.