Alberto Espay
MD, MSc, FAAN, FANA – Principal Investigator
Dr. Alberto Espay is Professor and Endowed Chair of the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Center for Parkinson’s Disease at the University of Cincinnati. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed research articles, 40 book chapters and 10 books. Dr. Espay has held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Movement Disorders Section of the American Academy of Neurology, and Associate Editor of the Movement Disorders journal. He currently serves as President of the Pan-American Section of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society.
Kevin Duque
MD – Scientific Program Manager
Kevin Duque earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and has been dedicated to research ever since. He has worked on neuroinfectious disease, epilepsy, and sleep medicine in Peru and, since moving to Cincinnati in 2019, has contributed to over 20 clinical studies and publications in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Neurology. Focused on advancing precision medicine for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, he envisions that by 2030 the right therapies will be matched to the right patients, slowing or halting disease progression.
Luca Marsili
MD, PhD – Sub-investigator
Luca Marsili graduated in Medicine and did his residency in Neurology at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, where he achieved also his Ph.D. in neurosciences. He currently works as an Adjunct Instructor of Neurology at the University of Cincinnati (OH). His research activity is related to neurodegenerative diseases, included but not limited to Parkinson’s disease, atypical parkinsonian syndromes, and other movement disorders with a particular interest in the clinical, genetic, and pathophysiological underpinnings of these conditions.
Nicole Perovic
MS- Project manager
Nicole is the Clinical Research Manager for the Movement Disorders Division and the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program (CCBP) at the University of Cincinnati. With more than a decade of experience in neurological research, she has led clinical studies on Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Myasthenia Gravis, and Essential Tremor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, a master’s in research administration from the University of Central Florida, and has been ACRP-certified since 2019. Recently relocated from Orlando, she is enjoying life in Cincinnati with her husband and young daughter.
Jesus Abanto
MD – Research Fellow
Jesús Abanto earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. Passionate about technology, research, and neuroscience, he specializes in epidemiology and clinical research. He is currently a Clinical Research Fellow in Movement Disorders at the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Neurology.
Aaron Bloemer
BS – Clinical Research Coordinator
Aaron graduated from Mount St. Joseph University with a degree in Health & Wellness. Aaron is employed by the University of Cincinnati as Clinical Research Professional in the Department of Neurology, Division of Movement Disorders. He is involved in recruiting patients from clinic to enroll in the CCBP study and is interested in genetic, pathophysiologic, and alternative medicine for the decelerating of disease progression in neurodegenerative diseases.
Buky Arowosegbe
BSc – Clinical Research Coordinator
Adebukunola (Buky) Arowosegbe graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations at The University of Cincinnati. She has been working on the CCBP Research team for over 3 years as a Clinical Research Professional for the Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. She has a passion for working with patients, with over 8 years in various positions in the Healthcare field.
Nathaly Chinchihualpa
MD – Research Fellow
Nathaly is a Clinical Research Fellow in Movement Disorders at the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Neurology, where she contributes to the Cincinnati Cohort Biomarker Program (CCBP) and engages in genetics- and technology-driven research initiatives. Originally from Lima, Peru, she earned her medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and completed the Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics at the University of Cincinnati, where she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical and Translational Research. Her research interests include global neurology, bioinformatics, neurogenetics, and precision medicine in movement disorders.
Heba Deraz
MD – Research Fellow
Heba Deraz is a neurologist with a medical degree from Cairo University in Egypt, where she also completed her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Neurology. Her academic and research focus has been on Parkinson’s disease, reflecting her deep interest in movement disorders. Currently, she serves as a Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Neurology at the University of Cincinnati, specializing in Movement Disorders..
Andrea Herrera
MD, MSc – Research Fellow
Andrea Herrera is a physician from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia with a master’s in Genomic Medicine from Queen Mary University of London. She integrates neurology and genomics in her work as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati, focusing on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Jess Guilfoyle
BSc – Clinical Research Coordinator
Jessica graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She has experience in patient care and laboratory research. She is excited to continue working with the CCBP team and hopes to help contribute to advancing research that makes a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. Outside of research, she enjoys exercising and spending time with family and friends.
Brooklyn Metz
BSc, MSc – Clinical Research Coordinator
Brooklyn Metz graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a master’s degree is Biomedical Sciences. She performed research in WVU’s Neural Engineering Laboratory focused on movement science and rehabilitation engineering. She is currently working as a Clinical Research Professional for the Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders at the University of Cincinnati.