Racette Lab
Department of Neurology
About the Racette Lab

Our research laboratory focuses on the environmental epidemiology of Parkinson disease (PD). Our primary focus is the role of neurotoxic metals in the pathogenesis of parkinsonism. The primary areas of research in our laboratory include a worksite based studies of parkinsonism in welders, imaging biomarkers of parkinsonism in Mn-exposed workers, neuropathology of Mn miners, occupational risk factors for PD in Finland, and the use of administrative data (Medicare) to understand demographic and environmental risk factors for PD. The ultimate goal of our laboratory is to identify modifiable risk factors for PD that would be amenable to a primary prevention approach to reduce population disease burden. A summary of this concept can be found in the following manuscript:

Racette BA, Willis AW. Time to change the blind men and the elephant approach to Parkinson disease?. Neurology. 2015 Jul 14;85(2):190-6. PubMed PMID: 26070339; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4515036.

Our Contributions to Science

Listed below is what the Racette Lab is working on.
> read more

  • Epidemiology of Parkinsonism in Mn-exposed Workers
  • Structural and Molecular Imaging of Mn Neurotoxicity
  • Neuropathology of Chronic Mn Exposure
  • Environmental Exposures and PD Risk
  • Health Services Utilization in Patients with PD
  • Tobacco and PD
  • Genetics of PD
Video
Our Team

Learn about Racette lab team and their scientific backgrounds and interests.
> read more