Dr Roger Barker MRCP

Roger Barker has been University Lecturer in Neurology and Honorary Consultant in Neurology at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital since 2000. He graduated from Oxford University and then continued his medical career at a number of London hospitals including the Brompton, Hammersmith and National Hospital for Neurological Diseases. He began his research in Cambridge in 1991 and over the last ten years has completed his neurological training whilst continuing in research through an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship.

His research interests are neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, in which he does clinical based studies along with the development of cell therapies. This latter research involves studying neural stem cells and xenografts as a means of repairing the brain in these chronic neurodegenerative disorders. This basic science research complements his clinical research into defining the cause and heterogeneity of Parkinson's disease, as well as better understanding the signs and natural history of Huntington's disease. He has published three books and over a hundred articles, and a BBC documentary on his research in neural grafting in Huntington's disease has recently been broadcast.

His work has been supported by the Medical Research Council and Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS). He is a member of the PDS medical research panel and has recently been invited to join the MRC stem cell initiative.

He is an active practising neurologist seeing patients with general neurological problems, as well as being actively involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He examines in the Diploma of Neurology in London as well as medical finals in Cambridge, and lectures both nationally and internationally including local schools.