Loukia Parisiadou, Ph.D.

Loukia did her undergraduate studies at the University of Sheffiled, UK, and received a Ph.D. from the University of Athens, Greece. She then joined the laboratory of Neurogenetics at the National Institute on Aging  for her postdoctoral training at a very exciting time for the genetics of Parkinson's disease. The laboratory made significant advancements showing that mutations in a gene called LRRK2 cause Parkinson's disease. This sparked her scientific interest in attempting  to understand the molecular basis of Parkinson's disease using familial forms of the disease with a focus on LRRK2 and α-synculein. Her efforts to explore the effects of LRRK2 mutations in PD provided novel insights on the undetermined role of LRRK2 protein. This led to several murine mouse models and a series of cellular and molecular experimental tools to facilitate LRRK2 research. She then joined the Feinberg School of Medicine, and launched her independent research program. 

When not on campus,  she enjoys traveling, exploring Chicago and going to the park with her two sons and her baby girl.

                                                                              Tinos: Loukia's favorite Greek island!

Mani: "The Mani is a wild, rugged region. From the steep foothills of the snow-tipped Taÿgetos Mountains to the pristine coastal coves, and from the tiny villages nestling amid olive groves, connected by threads of walking trails to the arid scenery in the south of peninsula, speckled with abandoned stone towers, the Mani has some of the most dramatic and varied scenery in the Peloponnese, much of it still wonderfully under explored". -from Lonely Planet