Funded Studies

Study Rationale:                         

Loss of dopamine in the brain is the main cause of Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms. Previous research shows that the brain can lose many of the cells that...

Study Rationale:                         

Many people assume that most of our DNA is made up of genes, but in fact, genes account for only about 2% of the human genome. More than half is made up of...

Study Rationale:                         

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), certain brain cells that make dopamine, called A9 neurons, slowly die. These cells are very active and have long, branching...

Study Rationale:

Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the most common inherited cause of Parkinson’s disease. These changes affect how cells read and process genetic messages, producing different versions...

Study Rationale:        

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder, yet we still don’t fully understand why brain cells become vulnerable and die. Recent work suggests...

Study Rationale:                         

Several genetic and environmental factors determine the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) and how fast the disease progresses.  We have identified 2...