Caption: J. Timothy Greenamyre
Photography by Joshua Franzos
J. Timothy Greenamyre, Love Family Professor and vice chair of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2025 Jay Van Andel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research by Van Andel Institute (VAI).
Greenamyre’s groundbreaking work on gene-environment interactions has significantly advanced our understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Greenamyre has identified the roles of mitochondria and the LRRK2 gene in the onset of Parkinson’s disease. His research has also determined that environmental exposure to chemicals like MPTP, a type of synthetic heroin, and the restricted-use pesticide rotenone can lead to progressive Parkinson’s-like behavioral and neuropathological changes.
Read more about Greenamyre’s extraordinary research career in “The Chemical Connection,” published in the Spring 2025 issue of Pitt Med Magazine.
The award will be presented during the Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease, VAI’s annual Parkinson’s disease symposium.