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History

Established on October 3, 2024, the TCU Center for Neurodegenerative Disease was founded within Harris College to address the global health crisis of dementia and Parkinson’s disease through the foundational support of the Zoota family.  

This initiative allowed Dr. Michelle Kimzey and Dean Chris Watts to merge their landmark projects, Rethinking Dementia and Endeavor Parkinsonology, into a multidisciplinary hub for clinical research and education.  

Mission & Vision 

Our Mission:

Improve the lives of those living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease through the creation of knowledge from multidisciplinary clinical and basic research, to increase our understanding of the causes, pathophysiological mechanisms and effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. 

Our Commitment: 

Harris College is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those living with these conditions by offering support services, advancing research and promoting awareness.

Together, we aspire to create a world where individuals living with dementia and Parkinsonism can find comfort, support, and the opportunity to live life to the fullest.

The Zoota Family Foundation 

The Zoota family of Fort Worth are long-time supporters of research and educational outreach. Their foundational gifts helped to establish the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease through an endowed professorship and research funding to support primary investigators and student researchers. 

The Zoota family also helped to establish the Leaders in Parkinson's Disease Speaker Series, an endowed lectureship which brings national and international thought leaders to the TCU community to help others become more informed and raise awareness about Parkinson’s. 

Honoring the legacy of Dr.Watts

We honor the profound legacy of Dr. Christopher Watts, a visionary researcher, educator, and advocate whose tireless dedication to the Endeavor Parkinsonology initiative and the TCU Miller Speech & Hearing Clinic forged a lasting bridge between clinical research and the Fort Worth community.  

A nationally recognized expert in voice disorders and speech-language pathology, Watts spent nearly two decades at TCU building programs, mentoring students and translating cutting-edge research into tangible help for people living with neurodegenerative diseases. His leadership elevated Harris College’s reputation while never losing sight of his central mission: serving people.  

His most notable works include: 

• Young S, Elwell K, Watts CR. (2025). Regional Changes in the Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease Over a Ten-Year Period in the State of Texas. Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 13,100369. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590112525000738 
• Watts CR, Thijs Z, King A, Carr JC, Porter R. (2023). A pilot study of the effect of a non-contact boxing exercise intervention on respiratory pressure and phonation aerodynamics in people with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37510921/ 

Center Members