The Research Center of Excellence is part of the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. The Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration Program, part of the Fixel Institute, was founded in 2002 with the vision of creating a world-class clinical-research center to provide a single destination for patients, families, clinicians, and researchers. The program currently employs movement disorders specialists, dementia specialists, geriatric psychiatrists, a geriatrician, and four advanced practice providers, all of whom care for persons with Lewy body disorders and their families.
Drs. Melissa Armstrong, Nikolaus McFarland, Bhavana Patel, and Tracy Tholanikunnel have LBD-focused clinical and research practices. In addition to physician appointments, patients receive on-site specialty-trained physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy (including barium swallow evaluations), usually on the same day as their physician visits. The institute has an on-site clinical case manager for social work needs, a genetic counseling team, and a dietician available in clinic or by phone/Zoom. Neuropsychological testing is available on site. In 2023, a neuroimaging center opened on the same lot as the clinic and this provides MRI, CT, PET, and MEG imaging opportunities.
