Current research: what causes Parkinson's?

We are currently funding around 40 Parkinson's research projects exploring the causes of Parkinson's.

Parkinson's researcher We need to know how and why certain nerve cells in the brain in Parkinson's die in order to find a cure.

In Parkinson's there is a slow loss of nerve cells in the brain, with symptoms only emerging when around 70% of cells have been lost.

But we still don't know how or why these nerve cells die.

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

Using light to study nerve cells

Dr Sarah Threlfell, University of Oxford
£34,985 over 12 months
Start date: January 2013
Innovation grant: K-1209

Sarah aims to generate new tools which allow researchers to study the behaviour of different types of dopamine-producing nerve cells in greater detail than ever before.

Using light to study nerve cells - research project summary (PDF, 161KB)

Changes in mitochondrial DNA in Parkinson's

Dr Gavin Hudson, Newcastle University
£180,083 over 3 years
Start date: October 2012
Senior Research Fellowship: F-1202

Gavin hopes to unravel the complex relationship between mitochondrial problems and nerve cell death – and ultimately the underlying causes of Parkinson's.

Changes in mitochondrial DNA in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 343KB)

Investigating changes in proteins in Parkinson's

Professor Fran Borovecki, University of Zagreb
£34,575 over 12 months
Start date: October 2012
International innovation grant: K-1206

Fran and his team will look for subtle differences in proteins in blood samples from people with Parkinson's.

Investigating changes in proteins in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 242KB)

Tau and Parkinson's: what's the link?

Dr Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford
£95,462 over 3 years
Start date: October 2012
PhD studentship: H-1102

In this project, a PhD student in Richard's lab will investigate the connection between a protein called tau and Parkinson's.

Tau and Parkinson's: what's the link? - research project summary (PDF, 340KB)

A new fruit fly model of Parkinson's

Dr Alex Whitworth, University of Sheffield
£118,380 over 2 years
Start date: August 2012
Project grant: G-1201

Alex will investigate how changes in a gene called VPS35 cause Parkinson's by making and studying genetically modified fruit flies.

A new fruit fly model of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 81KB)

Investigating PGC-1a in fruit fly models of Parkinson's

Professor Linda Partridge, University College London
£93,345 over 3 years
Start date: June 2012
PhD studentship: H-1105

This project will show whether a protein called PGC-1a could be a useful target for drugs intended to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's.

Investigating PGC-1a in fruit fly models of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 85KB)

How does alpha-synuclein move from cell to cell?

Dr Mark Cooper, University College London
£34,904 over 12 months
Start date: June 2012
Innovation grant: K-1202

Recent research suggests the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's may 'leak' alpha-synuclein. Mark is investigating how this happens.

How does alpha-synuclein move from cell to cell? - research project summary (PDF, 165KB)

Parkinson's and Gaucher's disease: is calcium the missing link?

Professor Sandip Patel, University College London
£21,643 over 12 months
Start date: June 2012
Innovation grant: K-1107

This project is investigating a completely new idea about the causes of Parkinson's, which could open up a whole new avenue of research.

Parkinson's and Gaucher's disease: is calcium the missing link? - research project summary (PDF, 48KB)

Studying mitochondria in skin cells from people with Parkinson's

Dr Oliver Bandmann, University of Sheffield
£147,275 over 3 years
Start date: May 2012
Project grant: G-1202

Oliver wants to find out how common mitochondrial problems really are in Parkinson's, understand exactly what goes wrong and how we can help the mitochondria work better.

Studying mitochondria in skin cells from people with Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 160KB)

Do viral infections trigger Parkinson's?

Professor Tony Nash, University of Edinburgh
£35,000 over 9 months
Start date: May 2012
Innovation grant: K-1109

In this project, Tony and his team aim to investigate this possible link between viral infection and the development of Parkinson's.

Do viral infections trigger Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 53KB)

The many shapes of alpha-synuclein

Professor Christopher Dobson, University of Cambridge
£96,702 over 3 years
Start date: April 2012
PhD studentship: H-1103

This project will use cutting-edge techniques to 'see' the different shapes that the key protein alpha-synuclein folds into.

The many shapes of alpha-synuclein - research project summary (PDF, 45KB)

Filling the genetic gaps in Parkinson's

Professor Nick Wood, University College London
£315,000 over 2 years
Start date: January 2012
Project grant: G-1107

Nick and his team will use cutting-edge techniques to analyse the DNA of 300 people with Parkinson's where the condition appears to have been inherited.

Filling the genetic gaps in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 58KB)

The development of Parkinson's in the brain

Professor Roger Barker, University of Cambridge
£247,868 over 3 years
Start date: January 2012
Project grant: G-1011

Roger's project will study how the death of nerve cells spreads from one part of the brain to another in Parkinson's. Hopefully this will help identify ways to prevent it and halt the progression of the condition.

The development of Parkinson's in the brain - research project summary (PDF, 95KB)

What is the link between Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's?

Professor Anthony Schapira, Institute of Neurology, London
£333,229 over 3 years
Start date: December 2011
Project grant: G-1104

People who have a genetic condition called Gaucher's disease are more likely to develop Parkinson's. Anthony wants to know why and will investigate the genetics involved in both conditions.

What is the link between Gaucher's disease and Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 100KB)

Understanding the role of the Fbxo7 gene in Parkinson's

Professor Dario Alessi, University of Dundee
£145,600 over 4 years
Start date: October 2011
PhD studentship: H-1101

Changes in the Fbxo7 gene are linked to early onset forms of Parkinson's. So understanding what Fbxo7 does will help us understand why nerve cells die and help us develop better treatments for Parkinson's.

Understanding the role of the Fbxo7 gene in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF,155KB)

Linking alpha-synuclein to Parkinson's

Professor Maria Grazia Spillantini, University of Cambridge
£127,997 over 2 years
Start date: October 2011
Project grant: G-1102

Maria's project is investigating what the protein alpha-synuclein does inside nerve cells. Alpha-synuclein may be the key to Parkinson's because it forms sticky clumps that clog up the cells affected in people with the condition.

Linking alpha-synuclein to Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 170KB)

The role of inflammation in Parkinson's

Dr Martin Schroeder, Durham University
£87,210 over 3 years
Start date: August 2011
PhD Studentship: H-1004

Inflammation in the brain may be involved in the death of nerve cells in Parkinson's. Martin will be investigating what triggers inflammation in the brain, which may help to develop treatments that reduce this.

The role of inflammation in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 52KB)

What does alpha-synuclein do in nerve cells?

Professor Vladimir Buchman, Cardiff University
£184,778 over 3 years
Start date: April 2011
Project grant: G-1006

Vladimir wants to know what happens to nerve cells when they lose alpha-synuclein at different stages in their development. Understanding how losing alpha-synuclein affects nerve cells may lead to new targets for treatment.

What does alpha-synuclein do in nerve cells? - research project summary (PDF, 150KB)

Using skin cells to tell us more about Parkinson's

Dr Oliver Bandmann, University of Sheffield
£226,181 over 3 years
Start date: April 2011
Project grant: G-1007

Oliver is looking for differences inside skin cells from people with and without Parkinson's who have an altered version of the LRRK2 gene which is known to increase risk of Parkinson's.

Using skin cells to tell us more about Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 70KB)

How does Parkinson's spread throughout the brain?

Professor Tamas Revesz, University College London
£319,334 over 38 months
Start date: November 2010
Project grant: G-1004

Tamas is studying brain tissue (some from the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank) looking for subtle changes that occur as Parkinson's spreads from cell to cell. He hopes that this will reveal clues to new treatments.

How does Parkinson's spread throughout the brain? - research project summary (PDF, 157KB)

Are Lewy bodies the bad guys in Parkinson's?

Dr Jody Mason, University of Essex
£100,088 over 4 years
Start date: October 2010
PhD Studentship: H-1001

This project aims to find chemicals that can prevent Lewy bodies - the sticky clumps of proteins found inside the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's - from forming.

Are Lewy bodies the bad guys in Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 80KB)

Calcium in the Parkinson's brain

Dr Stephanie Cragg, University of Oxford
£92,993 over 3 years
Start date: September 2010
PhD Studentship: H-1003

Research has suggested that calcium may play a part in the death of the dopamine-producing nerve cells that die in Parkinson's.

Calcium in the Parkinson's brain - research project summary (PDF, 49KB)

Studying alpha-synuclein in a realistic model of Parkinson's

Dr Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford
£212,058 over 3 years
Start date: September 2010
Project grant: G-1003

Richard's project will investigate the earliest stages of Parkinson's in mice that have the human alpha-synuclein protein - which forms sticky clumps that clog up the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's.

Studying alpha-synuclein in a realistic model of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 208KB)

Are Lewy bodies behind dopamine nerve cell death?

Dr Mark Cooper, Institute of Neurology, UCL
£208,751 over 3 years
Start date: August 2010
Project grant: G-0910

Mark wants to find out whether there's a link between the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells and excess phosphate on the serine 129 part of alpha-synuclein.

Are Lewy bodies behind dopamine nerve cell death? - research project summary (PDF, 351KB)

Using worms to understand Parkinson's

Dr Anton Gartner, University of Dundee
£196,322 over 3 years (extended until March 2014)
Start date: February 2010
Project grant: G-0912

Anton's project will use the worm C. elegans to study key genes that cause cells to die. Understanding how genes damage or protect nerve cells may provide crucial clues to what happens when nerve cells die in Parkinson's.

Using worms to understand Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 255KB)

Help us fund Anton's research - sponsor a worm for £5 a month

Using yeast to help us understand the DJ-1 gene

Dr Flaviano Giorgini, University of Leicester
£242,759 over 3 years (extended until March 2014)
Start date: October 2009
Project grant: G-0902

We know that the DJ-1 gene is involved in some inherited forms of Parkinson's. Flaviano will explore how healthy and faulty versions of DJ-1 affect yeast cells to help us understand why nerve cells die.

Using yeast to help us understand the DJ-1 gene - research project summary (PDF, 167KB)

What does the PINK1 gene do inside nerve cells?

Professor Dario Alessi, University of Dundee
£84,945 over 3 years (extended until October 2013)
Start date: October 2009
PhD studentship: H-0901

Changes in the PINK1 gene cause rare inherited forms of Parkinson's. Dario's research is investigating how and why changes in the PINK1 gene cause nerve cells to die in Parkinson's.

What does the PINK1 gene do inside nerve cells? - research project summary (PDF, 95KB)

Why are dopamine-producing nerve cells vulnerable in Parkinson's?

Dr Siew-Lan Ang, National Institute Medical Research, London
£189,017 over 3 years
Start date: September 2009 (extended until March 2013)
Project grant: G-0906

Siew-Lan is studying how 2 genes (called Robo genes) affect how dopamine-producing nerve cells develop, and if they can help explain why some cells die in Parkinson's while others don't.

Why are dopamine-producing nerve cells vulnerable in Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 246KB)

Can zebrafish help us to understand early onset Parkinson's?

Dr Oliver Bandmann, University of Sheffield
£239,593 over 3 years (study extended until March 2013)
Start date: June 2009
Project grant: G-0901

Oliver is studying changes in the parkin gene in zebrafish. This will help us understand how changes in human parkin cause early onset forms of inherited Parkinson's.

Can zebrafish help us to understand early onset Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 64KB)

How does the PINK1 gene cause nerve cell death in Parkinson's?

Dr Andrey Abramov, University College London
£483,730 over 5 years
Start date: May 2008
Career development award: F-0806

Andrey's research aims to understand why the mutant form of PINK1 prevents the cells from making enough energy to survive. Armed with this knowledge, we may be able to devise new treatments to overcome the problem.

How does the PINK1 gene cause nerve cell death in Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 69KB)

The role of Lewy bodies in the death of nerve cells in Parkinson's

Dr Lynn Bedford, University of Nottingham
£441,964 over 5 years
Start date: January 2008
Career development award: F-0702

Lynn is developing a new mouse model of Parkinson's that develops Lewy bodies - the sticky clumps of proteins that are the hallmark of the condition - inside the brain.

The role of Lewy bodies in the death of nerve cells in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 87KB)