Cynthia Poon

Cynthia Poon is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, specializing in movement disorders with emphasis on Parkinson's disease exercise interventions and clinical trial leadership.

Her educational background includes:

• BS: University of Illinois at Chicago (2007)
• MS: University of Illinois at Chicago (2009)
• PhD: University of Illinois, Chicago (2012)
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: University of Illinois at Chicago (2015)
• Postdoctoral Fellow: University of Illinois at Chicago, Movement Disorders (2014)
• Postdoctoral Fellow: Northwestern University, Movements Disorders and Physical Therapy (2015)

Dr. Poon's research focuses on exercise-based therapeutics for Parkinson's disease, clinical trial methodology, and diagnostic innovation. She develops evidence-based exercise protocols and quality improvement frameworks for neurological clinical research, with particular attention to motor symptom progression and non-pharmacological interventions.

Her publication trends reveal concentrated expertise in Parkinson's disease diagnostics (eye-tracking systems, imaging biomarkers) and exercise intervention trials, spanning neurology, biomedical engineering, and clinical methodology disciplines with translational emphasis.

Professional recognition includes:

• Best original research article for 2015 by Movement Disorders, Movement Disorders Journal (2016)

As principal investigator for the SPARX3 Phase 3 clinical trial, she directs multi-site research on treadmill exercise intensity effects in early Parkinson's disease, while implementing clinical research quality initiatives through NUCATS collaborations.

She operates within Northwestern's Movement Disorders division, coordinating multidisciplinary teams of neurologists, physical therapists, and data scientists to advance Parkinson's disease therapeutics and diagnostic standards.