Kelly E. Lyons

Kelly E. Lyons is a Research Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, specializing in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor research. Her work focuses on movement disorder diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, and neurodegenerative mechanisms.

Her research interests span Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Gerontology. Lyons has pioneered studies using wearable sensors for movement disorder classification, pupillary response analysis for cognitive assessment, and complementary therapies like Qigong for non-motor symptom management. Her work bridges clinical neurology with engineering approaches to develop objective diagnostic biomarkers.

Key scientific recognition includes:

• President of the International Essential Tremor Foundation
• Co-editor of multiple authoritative handbooks on Parkinson's disease
• Leadership in international DBS clinical trials

Lyons directs research initiatives at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center, securing substantial NIH and foundation funding. Her team collaborates with neurologists, neurosurgeons, and biomedical engineers across global institutions to advance movement disorder therapeutics. Current projects investigate long-term DBS outcomes, sleep disturbances in Parkinson's, and genetic modifiers of disease progression.