Dr. J. William Langston is a distinguished neurologist and leading authority in Parkinson's disease research with a distinguished academic career spanning multiple decades. He currently serves as Clinical Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he contributes his extensive expertise to both clinical practice and scientific investigation. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine, he previously held faculty positions at Stanford University and served as Chairman of Neurology at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California. Dr. Langston founded the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, California in 1988, leading it as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer until 2014 when he transitioned to focus exclusively on scientific leadership as Chief Scientific Officer.
Dr. Langston gained international prominence in 1982 for his groundbreaking discovery of the link between the chemical MPTP and parkinsonism, which revolutionized the study of Parkinson's disease by providing the first reliable model for research. This seminal work demonstrated how environmental contaminants could trigger parkinsonian symptoms, fundamentally shifting scientific understanding of potential environmental causes of the disease and stimulating decades of subsequent research. With nearly 400 peer-reviewed publications to his name, Dr. Langston has made substantial contributions to understanding mechanisms of neuronal degeneration, the etiology of Parkinson's disease, and novel therapeutic approaches. His research has directly influenced the development of new strategies including cell replacement therapy, gene therapy, and methods for early identification of at-risk individuals through genome mapping.
As a founding member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Dr. Langston has played a pivotal role in shaping global Parkinson's research funding priorities and scientific direction. He currently serves as Associate Director of the Pacific Udall Center at Stanford University, where he integrates his deep clinical expertise with cutting-edge research to advance understanding from laboratory to patient care. Dr. Langston also serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, guiding the dissemination of critical research findings to the global scientific community. His current research continues to focus on identifying environmental factors such as pesticides, investigating cluster cases, and developing strategies to slow or halt disease progression, reflecting his steadfast commitment to translating scientific discoveries into meaningful clinical outcomes for Parkinson's patients.
