DURHAM, N.C. -- Researchers at 老牛影视 School of Medicine have been selected to lead two inter-institution team grants totaling $18 million to investigate Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
The awards from the Aligning Science Across Parkinson鈥檚 (ASAP) initiative position Duke as a national leader in understanding the origins and development of this devastating movement disorder.
Duke鈥檚 coordinating lead investigators for the two research projects are Nicole Calakos, MD, PhD, Lincoln Financial Group Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology and Neurology, and Rodger Liddle, MD, Professor of Medicine.
鈥淭his is an exciting moment for Duke, and an exciting moment for anyone with or affected by Parkinson鈥檚 disease,鈥 Calakos said. 鈥淒uke has been invested in Parkinson's for a long time, but this funding launches a new era because of the depth and diversity of new opportunities we will have to understand, fight, and prevent this insidious disease.鈥
Parkinson鈥檚 disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease causing tremors, rigidity, slowed movement, and other symptoms. Close to one million people in the United States have Parkinson鈥檚 disease. While medications, lifestyle modifications, and surgical procedures can help with symptoms, no therapies can stop or reverse the course of the disease.
Calakos鈥 team project will examine how the vulnerability of dopamine neurons is influenced by the connections it makes with neighboring cells in the brain. Dopamine neurons die as Parkinson鈥檚 progresses and are a major cause of the slowed movements and other symptoms associated with the condition. While research has long focused on the dopamine neurons themselves, Calakos鈥 team proposes that cells that closely communicate with and support the dopamine neurons may also be important. Her team includes investigators new to the topic of Parkinson鈥檚 disease and innovative technologies that will allow the team to reveal the potential for disease modifiers among the dopamine neuron鈥檚 circuitry.
Liddle鈥檚 project will investigate the role that specialized cells in the gut known as enteroendocrine cells play in the origins of Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Parkinson鈥檚 is driven by the growth of toxic clumps of protein known as Lewy bodies in the brain. Lewy bodies are primarily made up of a misfolded protein known as alpha-synuclein. Liddle hypothesizes that enteroendocrine cells act as an entry point for corrupted alpha-synuclein from the gut to reach the brain. He believes these cells may be a target for future therapies.
鈥淓nteroendocrine cells provide a potential pathway for corrupted alpha-synuclein all the way from the intestine through the vagus nerve directly into the brain,鈥 Liddle said. 鈥淭his knowledge gives us real insights into Parkinson鈥檚 disease -- and may act as the foundation for designing therapies to treat Parkinson鈥檚 and other conditions caused by altered gut-brain signaling.鈥
ASAP is a coordinated research initiative to advance targeted basic research for Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Its mission is to accelerate the pace of discovery and inform the path to a cure through collaboration, research-enabling resources, and data sharing. The ASAP Collaborative Research Network, announced in 2019, comprises teams that bring together investigators across multiple disciplines, institutions, career stages, and geographies seeking to tackle key knowledge gaps in the basic mechanisms that contribute to Parkinson鈥檚 development and progression. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson鈥檚 Research is ASAP鈥檚 implementation partner and issued the grant.
鈥淓ach team selected for the Collaborative Research Network brings unique expertise and perspective to ASAP鈥檚 mission of tackling key knowledge gaps in disease understanding through open science,鈥 said Ekemini Riley, PhD, ASAP Managing Director. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with 老牛影视 on these innovative and impactful projects that will position the field closer to new treatments for the millions living with and at risk of Parkinson鈥檚 disease.鈥
Calakos鈥 co-investigators at Duke include Cagla Eroglu, PhD, Cell Biology; Scott Soderling, PhD, Cell Biology; Laurie Sanders, PhD, Neurology; and Michael Tadross, MD, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, and at Stanford University, Sergiu Pasca, MD.
Liddle鈥檚 co-investigators include Duke鈥檚 Andrew West, PhD, Pharmacology; Timothy Sampson, PhD, Emory University; Mal煤 G谩mez Tansey, PhD, University of Florida; and Haydeh Payami, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham.