Current research: towards a cure for Parkinson's

Researcher We are currently funding 30 research projects worth almost £4million exploring new treatments for Parkinson's including stem cells and gene therapy.

We're committed to developing new and better treatments for Parkinson's and, ultimately, a cure.

Here are details of some of the research projects we are funding in this area.

Stem cell research projects

Stem cell Stem cell therapies offer great hope to people with Parkinson's. The aim is to replace the nerve cells lost in Parkinson's with healthy new cells.

Find out more about our stem cell research projects

CDNF and MANF - a protective pair for Parkinson's?

Dr Maeve Caldwell, University of Bristol
£34,999 over 11 months
Start date: November 2011
Innovation grant: K-1104

Maeve will investigate whether 2 newly identified growth factors that are naturally produced by the brain can protect the nerve cells that are lost in Parkinson's.

CDNF and MANF - a protective pair for Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 64KB)

Testing new drugs to slow down nerve cell death

Dr David Dexter, Imperial College London
£90,165 over 3 years
Start date: October 2011
PhD studentship: H-1005

In this project, David will work with a PhD student to develop a new animal model. They will use their model to test new drugs to see if they can stop or slow down the death of nerve cells in the Parkinson's brain.

Testing new drugs to slow down nerve cell death - research project summary (PDF, 54KB)

A new gene therapy approach to treating Parkinson's

Dr Lydia Alvarez, University College London
£248,629 over 3 years
Start date: September 2011
Career development award: F-1101

Lydia and her colleagues have developed a new gene therapy approach that may have great potential for Parkinson's.

A new gene therapy approach to treating Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 154KB)

Targeting brain rhythms to find better treatments for Parkinson's

Dr Ian Stanford, Aston University
£177,578 over 3 years
Start date: September 2011
Project grant: G-1008

Ian wants to know if zolpidem - a drug used for the treatment of insomnia - can reduce beta activity in the brain (which is abnormally high in people with Parkinson's). This could have exciting potential as a new treatment.

Targeting brain rhythms to find better treatments for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 170KB)

Can a diabetes drug also help people with Parkinson's?

Professor Michael Duchen, University College London
£106,835 over 2 years
Start date: August 2011
Project grant: G-1101

In this project, Michael will explore whether certain types of diabetes drugs may help to protect the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's.

Can a diabetes drug also help people with Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 73KB)

Studying nicotine's potential to treat Parkinson's

Dr Stephanie Cragg, University of Oxford
£142,451 over 2 years
Start date: August 2011
Project grant: G-1103

Stephanie's research has shown that nicotine affects how nerve cells release dopamine. Her new project will explore how nicotine boosts dopamine release, and will hopefully lead to new treatments for people with Parkinson's.

Studying nicotine's potential to treat Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 170KB)

Improving the way we replace the nerve cells lost in Parkinson's

Professor Anne Rosser, Cardiff University
£184,787 over 3 years
Start date: August 2011
Project grant: G-1105

Stem cell transplants have great potential as a future cure for Parkinson's - but there are still lots of challenges. Anne aims to find ways to help transplanted nerve cells survive and work properly once they're inside the Parkinson's brain.

Improving the way we replace the nerve cells lost in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 168KB)

Can we predict Parkinson's?

Dr Alastair Noyce, University of London
£35,000 over 12 months
Start date: April 2011
Innovation grant: K-1006

Alastair's project aims to develop tests that may one day be able to predict Parkinson's. Healthy older people who don't have Parkinson's will do online tests to help identify the earliest symptoms of Parkinson's.

Can we predict Parkinson's? - more information and how to take part

Can we predict Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 288KB)

How proteins combine in the brain to protect nerve cells

Professor Nick Wood, University College London
£90,580 over 3 years
Start date: February 2011
PhD Studentship: H-1006

Nick will work with a PhD student to study how 2 key proteins - PINK1 and mortalin - interact in the brain. Understanding the relationship between these proteins may help to develop new treatments for Parkinson's.

How proteins combine in the brain to protect nerve cells - research project summary (PDF, 63KB)

The role of stomach hormones in Parkinson's

Dr Jeff Davies, Swansea University
£34,939 over 15 months
Start date: December 2010
Innovation grant: K-1008

Ghrelin is a hormone produced by the stomach. It helps to regulate appetite, but there is also evidence that it may affect the nerve cells lost in Parkinson's. Dr Davies's project will investigate how different diets affect ghrelin production and the nerve cells in the brain.

The role of stomach hormones in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 42KB)

Developing a test to monitor the early signs of Parkinson's

Dr Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford
£34,999 over 12 months
Start date: December 2010
Innovation grant: K-1003

Richard wants to develop tests that can help us spot people at risk of Parkinson's at the earliest possible stage - giving us the best possible chance to stop the condition in its tracks.

Developing a test to monitor the early signs of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 341KB)

LRRK2 may provide a target for new treatments for Parkinson's

Dr Patrick Lewis, University College London
£250,000 over 3 years
Start date: October 2010
Career development award: F-1002

LRRK2 is one of the most common genes linked to Parkinson's. Patrick's project aims to figure out how LRRK2 works and find ways to change it - which could lead to new treatments.

LRRK2 may provide a target for new treatments for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 382KB)

Watch a short film of Parkinson's UK supporters visiting Patrick Lewis's lab

Help fund this vital research project

Patrick has made some important breakthoughs recently. Read the full LRRK breakthrough report (PDF, 2MB).
But more funding is needed for Patrick to continue his research. Please donate today.

Targeting proteins - towards new treatments for Parkinson's

Professor Christopher Moody, University of Nottingham
£120,894 over 2 years
Start date: October 2010
Project grant: G-1002

This project aims to develop new and better drugs for Parkinson's that work by preventing the build up of misfolded proteins inside the nerve cells that die in Parkinson's.

Targeting proteins - towards new treatments for Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 102KB)

Can reducing inflammation protect dopamine nerve cells?

Dr Peter Teismann, University of Aberdeen
£34,989 over 21 months
Start date: October 2010
Innovation grant: K-1001

Peter's project will tell us more about how inflammation is involved in Parkinson's. And it may reveal targets for new and better drugs.

Can reducing inflammation protect dopamine nerve cells - research project summary (PDF 157KB)

Putting a stop to dyskinesia

Dr Riccardo Brambilla, University of Cardiff
£251,496 over 3 years
Start date: May 2010
Project grant: G-1001

Riccardo is investigating whether reducing nerve cell activity - by interfering with a chain of events inside nerve cells called the Ras-ERK pathway - can prevent or reduce dyskinesia.

Putting a stop to dyskinesia - research project summary (PDF, 177KB)

Can CDNF stop dopamine nerve cell death?

Dr Maeve Caldwell, University of Bristol
£216,686 over 3 years
Start date: April 2010
Project grant: G-0915

Maeve wants to know if CDNF - a natural protein that helps nerve cells to grow and survive - could be used to protect new nerve cells transplanted into the Parkinson's brain.

Can CDNF stop dopamine nerve cell death? - research project summary (PDF, 192KB)

Preventing the build up of proteins inside nerve cells

Professor Christopher Dobson, University of Cambridge
£92,154 over 3 years
Start date: April 2010
PhD studentship: H-0903

Christopher's research will investigate how and why sticky protein clumps form inside nerve cells in Parkinson's. It will explore ways to prevent this happening - which could lead to new and better treatments.

Stopping nerve cell over-activity: a new drug target for Parkinson's

Dr Susan Jones, University of Cambridge
£91,455 over 3 years
Start date: October 2009
PhD studentship: H-0902

Susan's project will investigate how the nerve cells involved in Parkinson's deal with the chemical glutamate in the brain. Finding ways to fine-tune glutamate signalling could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's.

Stopping nerve cell over-activity: a new drug target for Parkinson's - year 1 progress report (PDF, 162KB)

Can we personalise treatment for Parkinson's?

Dr Ashwani Jha, Institute of Neurology, London
£173,953 over 3 years
Start date: June 2009
Career development award: F-0903

Ashwani's project will use cutting edge techniques to explore whether it's possible to tailor Parkinson's treatments to tackle the specific collection of symptoms that each individual experiences.

Can we personalise treatment for Parkinson's? - year 1 progress report (PDF, 178KB)