Researcher Greg Gerhardt on Treating Parkinson's and Diving into the Unknown
Pioneering research on DBS+, an investigative therapy for Parkinson's disease, was initially supported by a pilot grant from the UK Center from Clinical and Translational Science.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 30, 2026) — When Greg Gerhardt, Ph.D., talks about his work, you get the sense you’re listening to someone who has never accepted limits — not in science or geography, and certainly not in imagination.
A world-class neuroscientist, educator, and explorer, Gerhardt has built a career defined by innovation. Over nearly three decades at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, he’s continued to push the boundaries of brain repair and Parkinson’s disease treatment through research that is improving lives across the Commonwealth and beyond.
His guiding philosophy? “Think big… then think bigger.”
From landlocked fields to ocean depths
Raised on a farm near the Mississippi River, Gerhardt was captivated early by the idea of the ocean.
“I dreamed of it,” he said. “Growing up landlocked, the only time you saw clear water was in a rich friend’s swimming pool.”
Inspired by 1960s adventure shows like “Sea Hunt,” he longed to explore what was beyond the surface.
That opportunity arrived when he was a junior faculty member at the University of Colorado, where he and his colleagues learned to scuba dive. Unbeknownst to him, this newfound hobby would transform into something much bigger.
Over the last 40 years, Gerhardt has logged more than 500 dives, descending as far as 2,232 feet. He’s explored deep-sea ecosystems aboard the Johnson Sea Link II submersible, funded by an expedition grant from the National Sciences Foundation and sponsored by the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. It was there, among rare marine life and pitch-black waters, that his twin fascinations, the ocean and the human brain, began to converge.
“The ionic strength of ocean water and cerebrospinal fluid in the brain are surprisingly similar,” he said.
That insight allowed him to adapt neurochemical sensing techniques for deep-sea research, studying how marine animals like lobsters use chemical cues to navigate in total darkness.
His ocean expeditions have led to several scientific publications, more than a decade of teaching at Woods Hole, and some unforgettable dives. But more importantly, they shaped how he thinks as a scientist.
“The brain and the ocean are so alike — vast, mysterious and largely unexplored,” he said. “In both, the most important discoveries come when you follow your curiosity.”
Transforming Parkinson’s care in Kentucky
Since joining UK in 1998, Gerhardt has become a cornerstone of its neuroscience research enterprise. He founded the Center for Microelectrode Technology, which started at Colorado University in 1991; directed the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence at UK from 1999 until 2012; and now co-directs the UK Neurorestoration Center.
His appointments span six departments across three colleges — neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, pharmaceutical sciences and electrical engineering — reflecting his interdisciplinary reach.
“What truly distinguishes Gerhardt is his entrepreneurial vision and deep commitment to translational science,” said Luke Bradley, Ph.D., professor and acting chair of neuroscience. “His ability to bring together scientists, engineers, physicians and industry partners makes him an exceptional collaborator and a true pioneer, turning discovery into impact and, ultimately, improving patient outcomes.”
At the heart of Gerhardt’s research is a question that matters deeply to families across Kentucky: Can we not only treat Parkinson’s disease, but actually slow down its progression?
The answer is taking shape through two clinical trials, STAR and LEAP, that could redefine Parkinson’s care. The clinical and research team’s approach is unconventional: implanting a patient’s own peripheral nerve tissue into the brain during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
“It’s your own tissue, so there’s no immunosuppression, no ethical issues,” Gerhardt said. “We use your own tissue during standard DBS surgery, so it’s both cost-effective and minimally disruptive.”
To date, more than 80 patients have participated in the trials, with most showing stabilization or even improvement.
“We’ve had patients return to water skiing, riding motorcycles…doing these things they thought were behind them,” he said.
That kind of outcome is transformative for individuals and significant for Kentucky, which has one of the highest rates of neurodegenerative diseases in the country.
“We’re not just studying the brain,” Gerhardt said. “We’re working to improve lives, right now, right here, for Kentuckians.”
Much of the trial funding has come from grassroots efforts and philanthropy across the Commonwealth; preliminary pilot funding was provided by the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science.
“It’s a model for sustainable science,” said Gerhardt. “Local patients, local support, local results.”
Now, Gerhardt is setting his sights on earlier stages of Parkinson’s.
“If we’re seeing improvement in advanced cases, what might happen if we intervene sooner?
“The big picture is that this could dramatically reduce the cost and burden of Parkinson’s care, both financially and emotionally,” he added. He estimates that Parkinson’s disease currently costs the U.S. more than $68 billion annually. “If we can change the slope of that curve, even slightly, it’s a huge win.”
“Dr. Gerhardt’s influence on our department goes far beyond his research,” said Bradley. “He’s been a committed mentor to undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs and faculty — encouraging people to think broadly, challenge assumptions and keep their focus on translating science to impact patients’ lives.”
Preparing the next generation of investigators
Gerhardt is a passionate educator and mentor, co-directing one of the college’s largest neuroscience courses and helping future scientists see the big picture. Whether teaching, advising or brainstorming with a student on the edge of discovery, he brings the same energy and openness that define his own scientific journey.
“I don’t want them to memorize protein names,” he said. “I want them to think like discoverers. What are the gaps? What’s the next frontier?”
He also brings a philosophical mindset to science.
“If you always stay in your lane,” he tells his students, “you’ll never see the whole map.”
Balance, in Gerhardt’s world, means prioritizing life beyond the lab, too.
“Your hobbies matter,” he says. “They open doors. Had I not taken up diving, whole chapters of my career wouldn’t exist.”
Today, he still dives regularly, often with a group of fellow explorers in Cozumel, Mexico. He photographs marine life, teaches underwater photography, and shares stories of elusive creatures like eagle rays, Dumbo octopuses and deep-sea sharks.
“I love sharks,” he said. “Most people are afraid of them, but they’ve been around for over 220 million years. There’s a lot we can learn from them.”
To him, both the brain and the ocean are fragile ecosystems, under threat and understudied.
“We know more about distant galaxies than we do about our reefs or our own minds,” he said. That’s why he takes photos and documents what he can, noting that “the next generation may not get to see what I’ve seen.”
When asked what he hopes students carry forward, Gerhardt’s answer is as grounded as it is inspiring:
“A sense of adventure. A sense of purpose. And the courage to dive deep — whether that’s into the brain, the ocean or life itself.”
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR001998, and the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AG081356. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
