Helen Hwang MD, PhD

Movement Disorders Physician Scientist

  • AbOUT ME

    I am a neurologist, movement disorder specialist, and researcher at Washington University.

    Parkinson's disease is progressive, incurable, and not well understood. To date, there is no biomarker or disease-modifying therapy. I am interested in developing markers (lab tests from spinal fluid and skin) that reflect the disease process, understanding the pathophysiology, and finding novel therapeutics to slow down Parkinson's disease.

  • Education

    Washington University, School of Medicine

    2022 - current

    Instructor in Section of Movement Disorders

    Washington University, School of Medicine

    2020-2022

    Movement Disorder Fellowship

    Washington University, School of Medicine

    2016-2020

    Neurology Residency

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

    2008-2016

    MD in Medicine, PhD in Bioengineering

    University of California, San Diego

    2001-2005

    BS in Bioengineering, BA in Psychology

  • "Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing."

    Muhammad Ali

  • Areas of Interest / Publications

    Clinical Characterization of PD and other Neurological Disorders

    • Hwang H, Norris SA. Managing Advanced Parkinson's Disease. JGeriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2021;34(4):289-300. PMID: 34219527.
    • Hwang H, Levasseur VA, Perlmutter JS. Case Series: Dystonia with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. Dystonia. 2023;2:11678.
    • Hwang, H., Huang, J., Khaddour, K., Butt, O. H., Ansstas, G., Chen, J., ... & Campian, J. L. (2022). Prolonged response of recurrent IDH-wild-type glioblastoma to laser interstitial thermal therapy with pembrolizumab. CNS Oncology, 11(1), CNS81.

    Potential Biomarkers of PD

    • Hwang H, Miller R, Cash T, Eid A, Herries E, White III R, Maiti B,Schindler S, Jackson J, Perlmutter J, Campbell M. CSF Neurogranin Levels Are
      Decreased in Parkinson's disease (PD). MOVEMENT DISORDERS 2024 Sep 1 (Vol. 39,
      pp. S58-S58). (abstract)
    • O'Shea, J.Y.; Dhavale, D.D.; Hwang, H.; Smith, Z.; Graham, T.J.A.; Mach, R.H.; Kotzbauer, P.T. Use of Amplified Lewy Body Dementia Fibrils and Autoradiography to Characterize Binding of Radioligand Tg-1-90B to Alpha-Synuclein Fibrils in Post-mortem Brain Tissue. Cells 2025, 14, 1477

    Potential Therapeutics of PD

    • Hwang H, Dhavale, D.D.,Wang, S.J. Wang, S. J., Guduputi, A., Beale Jr, J. M., Cairns, N. J., &
      Kotzbauer, P. T. Identification of small molecule dimethyoxyphenyl piperazine
      inhibitors of alpha-synuclein fibril growth. Sci Rep 15, 33108 (2025)
    • Hwang, Helen, et al. "Natural Statins as Inhibitors of Alpha-synuclein Fibril Formation (P7-3.012)." Neurology. Vol. 102. No. 7_supplement_1. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2024. (abstract)

    Clinical Trials

  • Generous support provided by:

    American Parkinson Disease Association

    Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

    National Institute of Health

    American Academy of Neurology/American Brain Foundation

    Laura Feuerstein Parkinson’s Research Fund

    Annie and Jeffrey Kuramoto Giving Fund

  • reach out

    Contact me:

    660 S Euclid Ave
    St. Louis, MO 63110
    helenhwang at wustl dot edu

  • Support our research!

    100% of your donation goes to Helen Hwang's Research and is tax-deductible.

    Online

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    1. In the box below ‘I prefer to enter my own designation (specify below)', please type: Helen Hwang's PD Research
    2. Gift Amount
    3. Personal Information
    4. Submit

    Mail

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    To mail your gift or pledge, print and complete the above pdf, include your credit card payment or check payable to Washington University, and “Hwang PD Research” in the memo line.

    MAIL TO:

    Washington University in St. Louis Medical Advancement c/o Emily Williams
    MSC 1082
    7425 Forsyth Blvd
    St. Louis, MO 63105-2161

    Phone

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    Call (877) 215-2727 and choose option 3. Washington University accepts Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express®. You will need to provide your card number, expiration date, and name as it appears on your card.

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