David Yurek, PhD, is a research professor in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Kentucky and a member of the University of Kentucky Nanobiotechnology Center. Dr. Yurek’s current research program focuses on using viral and synthetic vectors to deliver therapeutic genes to brain cells affected by various brain disorders. He has over 25 years of experience working with various models of Parkinson’s disease to test the feasibility of using neurotrophic factors, cellular replacement, and gene therapy approaches as a means to halt or correct the neurodegenerative process.

Dr. Yurek earned his doctorate in physiology and biophysics from the University of Southern California and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Rochester.