New Research Funded – University of Queensland
Monday, 13th September 2021

Together with our partners at The Michael J. Fox Foundation we are excited to announced funding for two new Parkinson’s research grants at The University of Queensland.

TARGETING THE BODY’S CIRCADIAN CLOCK TO IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Award Date: April 2021
Duration: 24 Months
Institution: University of Queensland
Researchers: Oliver Rawashdeh, PhD, Dr Richard Gordon

This study will determine whether administration of CK1 inhibitors in a carefully timed manner can restore healthy sleep parameters, sleep quality and the smooth functioning of the circadian clock. We will also assess whether improvements in sleep quality and circadian rhythm lead to a reduction in other physiological changes characteristic of PD, such as brain inflammation, alpha-synuclein accumulation and the death of dopamine-producing neurons.

 

VALIDATING A NOVEL GLYCOLIPID RECEPTOR AS A DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Award Date: April 2021
Duration: 18 Months
Institution: The University of Queensland, Australia and Queen’s University, Belfast
Researchers: Dr Richard Gordon, Dr Rebecca Coll and Dr Nanthini Jayabalan

In Parkinson’s disease (PD) immune cells in the brain, gut and blood become persistently activated due the accumulation of synuclein aggregates and other mechanisms, which can trigger inflammation. Ongoing inflammation is accompanied by changes in the gut microbiome of people with PD. Both these processes have been shown to contribute to the gradual death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Therefore, halting the cycle of inflammation, microbiome dysfunction and brain cell death is considered a promising means by which to slow or stop disease progression. Our study will test a new approach by which to accomplish this.

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