Research Bio
My research program focuses on three areas. First is the function of the basal ganglia in normal control of movement and the pathophysiology of basal ganglia disorders characterized by abnormal involuntary movements. The basal ganglia are affected by many disorders beginning in childhood including cerebral palsy, CNS infections, metabolic disorders and other genetic conditions. It is well known that children with diseases involving the basal ganglia have abnormal body postures, slowing of movement, involuntary movements, or a combination of these abnormalities. However, the pathophysiology of these abnormalities is poorly understood. We have hypothesized that the basal ganglia normally act to select desired movement patterns and inhibit competing movements. Deranged basal ganglia output results in unwanted competing motor patterns or difficulty selecting desired motor patterns.
Second, is Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (Batten Disease), a neurodegenerative disease of childhood. Our research has focused on the natural history of the disease and is now pursuing potential disease modifying therapeutics.
Third, is the impact of Tourette Syndrome on children, their families, and the community.
An additional line of research involves the study of children with a degenerative neurological disorder called Batten Disease (aka Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis). We are investigating the natural history and rate of progression of neurological symptoms in this disorder.
| Oliver Sacks Award for Excellence | Tourette Association of America |
2015 |
| Compassionate Doctor Award | Patient's Choice |
2011 |
| Elected Faculty Member | Alpha Omega Alpha |
2009 - Present |
| America's Top Doctors | Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. |
2009 - Present |
| Teacher Recognition Award | American Academy of Neurology |
2008 |
| Patient's Choice Award | Patient's Choice |
2008 - Present |
| Who's Who in America |
2007 - Present |
| Best Doctors in America |
2005 - Present |
| Fellow | American Academy of Neurology |
2004 - Present |
| Fellow, American Neurological Association |
2002 - Present |
| Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award, American Neurological Association |
2002 |
| Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics |
2002 - Present |
| UR Nominee for 2015 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism Award |
2015 |
| URMC Diversity Award | University of Rochester Medical Center |
2013 |
| Faculty Mentoring Award for Mentoring of Clinical Science Trainees | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
2011 |
| Commendation for Third Year Teaching | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
2011 |
| Neurology Faculty Teaching Award | Department of Neurology, University of Rochester |
2005 |
| St. Louis Children's Hospital Housestaff Teaching Award |
1993 |
| Irwin Levy Prize in Neurology, Washington University |
1989 |
| O'Leary Prize for Neuroscience Research, Washington University |
1987 |
| High Honors for Senior Thesis, Wesleyan University |
1980 |
| Walkley Prize for Psychology Research, Wesleyan University |
1980 |
2016 Sep 20
Lungu C, Hirtz D, Damiano D, Gross P, Mink JW. "Report of a workshop on research gaps in the treatment of cerebral palsy." Neurology. 2016 Sep 20; 87(12):1293-1298. Epub 2016 Aug 24. |
2016 Jun 21
Jaynes MJ, Schieber MH, Mink JW. "Temporal and kinematic consistency predict sequence awareness." Experimental brain research. 2016 Jun 21; Epub 2016 Jun 21. |
2016 Jun
Shapiro E, Bernstein J, Adams HR, Barbier AJ, Buracchio T, Como P, Delaney KA, Eichler F, Goldsmith JC, Hogan M, Kovacs S, Mink JW, Odenkirchen J, Parisi MA, Skrinar A, Waisbren SE, Mulberg AE. "Neurocognitive clinical outcome assessments for inborn errors of metabolism and other rare conditions." Molecular genetics and metabolism. 2016 Jun; 118(2):65-9. Epub 2016 Apr 14. |
2016 Jun
Koy A, Lin JP, Sanger TD, Marks WA, Mink JW, Timmermann L. "Advances in management of movement disorders in children." The Lancet. Neurology. 2016 Jun; 15(7):719-35. Epub 2016 May 09. |
2016 Jun
Augustine EF, Mink JW. "Juvenile NCL (CLN3 Disease): Emerging Disease-Modifying Therapeutic Strategies." Pediatric endocrinology reviews : PER. 2016 Jun; 13 Suppl 1:655-62. |
