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What are stem cells?
Stem cells are cells within the body that are
not specialised but can, under the appropriate conditions, be
converted into specific cells including nerve cells. Research, some
of which is funded by the PDS, aims to understand how the nerve
cells can be formed and whether these can then be transplanted into
the brain to replace the cells that have died in Parkinson's.
Is stem cell treatment currently
available?
There are no stem cell treatments available
today that cure Parkinson's.
Studies on stem cells are still at an early
stage and despite some claims that have been made, no appropriate
clinical trials have been carried out. You can read more about this
in our news story "Stem cell claim
concerns"
What are cytoplasmic hybrids?
Cytoplasmic hybrids are cells that are made by
inserting the genetic material obtained from human cells into
the cell of an animal from which the genetic material has been
removed. These are, in effect, human cells. They develop into stem
cells and will be very useful in helping us to understand how human
stem cells work and how they can be transformed into nerve
cells.
What causes Parkinson's?
Parkinson's is a complex disorder and it is
unlikely that there is one single cause. Rather, it is due to a
combination of a genetic susceptibility (or predisposition)
combined wth exposure to external factors. A number of genes have
been identified that may play a role. In addition, there is
evidence that certain environmental factors, such as exposure to
pesticides or some solvents, may also play a role in the
development of Parkinson's.
Is Parkinson's inherited?
Although some genes play a role in the
development of Parkinson's, very few cases are directly inherited.
In most cases, people’s genes may make them more susceptible to
getting the condition, but only if they are exposed to other
factors. Because it is likely that a number of genes may play a
role, there is no single genetic test available to identify people
who may be more likely to develop Parkinson's.
Is there a biochemical test for Parkinson's?
Parkinson's is diagnosed by its clinical
characteristics of tremor, abnormal posture or slowness of
movement. While there are a number of clinical tests that are
carried out to help with the diagnosis, the diagnosis can also be
aided by various types of scans. These are not, however,
appropriate or necessary for all people with the condition. At
present, there are no simple biochemical tests that can be carried
out to confirm that a person has Parkinson's.
What areas of research does the PDS fund?
The PDS funds a wide range of research
including social, clinical and basic science projects. This follows
the publication of the Society's Research Agenda that identifies
the members' research priorities. This aims to provide a balance
between short-term applied research and longer-term research to
ultimately develop a cure for the condition.
Some projects that are currently funded
include:
Identifying the cause(s) of
Parkinson's
Establishing how the protein
alpha-synuclein and defects in the function of the
mitochondria are linked (Dr. Philip Robinson, St
James's University Hospital, Leeds)
Around ten years ago, researchers showed
that the nerve cells affected in Parkinson's contain too much of
the protein alpha-synuclein. Another key observation that has been
made in Parkinson's is that the powerhouses of cells, the
'mitochondria', which are responsible for producing most of a
cell's energy, do not work as efficiently as they should. This
project will look at the how the two are linked and whether there
are environmental factors, which influence the effect of
alpha-synuclein on how well mitochondria work. The focus of this
study is to identify the underlying cause of Parkinson's to enable
new, and more effective, treatments to be developed to halt the
disease process.
Clinical Studies:
Understanding visual problems and
hallucinations in Parkinson's. Senior Research Fellowship awarded
to Dr Neil Archibald (University of Newcastle)
Visual problems are common in
people with Parkinson's, and range from complaints of dry eyes and
blurred vision through to complex visual hallucinations. Despite
being relatively common, many of these visual symptoms remain
under-investigated.
The project will look into
eye disease and visual symptoms, and will investigate the impact of
visual hallucinations on visuo-perceptual impairment (how the brain
interprets what the eye sees). The research will also look into
whether patient and carer education can reduce the distress and
anxiety felt by those experiencing the visual hallucinations. As a
direct outcome from this work the researchers hope that information
for patients and caregivers about the generation of visual
hallucinations will decrease the associated distress (e.g. fear of
going insane, depressed mood) and improve quality of
life.
New approach to treating Parkinson's
Osteopontin as a neuroprotective treatment for Parkinson's
disease (Prof. Peter Jenner, King's College
London)
Treating the progression of Parkinson's
rather than the symptoms (i.e. a neuroprotective approach) will be
the next major step forward in treatment. There are currently no
drugs that are proven to have a significant effect on the rate at
which Parkinson's progresses.
This project will be focusing on a new
neuroprotective approach to treating Parkinson's. It will look
closely at osteopontin, a neuroprotective protein that occurs
naturally in the nerve cells within the brain that die in
Parkinson's. Osteopontin is very powerful in protecting these cells
from destruction and it has been shown to be deficient in the
brains of people with Parkinson's. The study will examine how
osteopontin produces its neuroprotective effects and if this can be
turned into a natural drug treatment to slow or halt the
progression of Parkinson's. This new approach focuses on treating
the progression of the condition, rather than the symptoms.
How does the PDS decide which projects to
fund?
The PDS has a number of schemes by which
research can be funded. These include Project Grants, Innovative Grants and
Fellowships
All of the applications are reviewed both by
experts in the field (termed peer review) and by members of the
Society's lay Research
Network which includes people with Parkinson's, their
carers and families. The applications are considered by the
Research Advisory Panel who then make recommendations to the Board
of Trustees.
The review process is extremely vigorous and
ensures that:
- only the best research is funded
- it does not duplicate research that is being
carried out elsewhere
- the researchers are appropriately qualified
to carry out the research
- they have the appropriate facilities
available
This ensures that the Society only funds the
highest quality research.
How can I get involved in clinical
trials?
The PDS does not usually recruit people for
clinical trials. We recommend that potential participants consult
your doctor or PDNS to get details of any therapy trials that may
be ongoing.
Details of ongoing clinical trials may be
obtained from:
Does the Parkinson's Disease Society support research
involving the use of animals?
PDS policy
While there are many approaches that can be used to answer specific
questions, the Parkinson's Disease Society acknowledges the
requirement for the use of animals in research into Parkinson's
within the current legal and regulatory framework in the UK.
Why is the use of animals important?
The PDS believes that research involving animals is important as it
will help to identify improved treatments, gain a greater
understanding of the causes of the condition and ultimately lead to
the development of a cure.
How is it regulated?
The use of animals in research is rigorously controlled by strict
UK legislation. All researchers involved in studies using animals
require a home office licence and the research facilities are
regularly inspected by regulatory authorities.
The three Rs
The PDS strongly supports what is
known as the "three Rs" with regard to the use of animals in
research:
- Reduce the number of animals used in every study to a
minimum
- Replace laboratory animals with non-animal techniques wherever
possible
- Refine the experiments to ensure the most comfortable and
humane conditions possible
Conditions for PDS grant holders
The PDS imposes strict conditions on all its grant holders and as a
member of the Association of Medical Research Charities
(AMRC) we follow the guidelines they set.
For the AMRC policy on the use of animals in research, please
visit the AMRC
website
How do I donate my brain to
research?
The UK Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank stores and retrieves
tissue bequeathed by registered donors and makes samples of the
material available to scientists carrying out research on
Parkinson's.
What does the Tissue Bank do?
Making the decision to donate tissue needs careful thought, but
thankfully many people make this important gift to support vital
research. Research on human tissue has contributed to the
development of drugs for Parkinson's such as levodopa, led to a
greater understanding of how we control movement and may identify
the cause or causes of nerve cell death in Parkinson's. Scientists
requiring material for research make a request to the Tissue Bank.
The request is considered by a scientific panel and if approved and
the researcher agrees to the Tissue Bank's conditions, appropriate
material is released at no charge. All Tissue Bank procedures are
performed with the utmost respect for the individual who donated
the tissue and information on the histological analysis is
available to next of kin if requested. Appropriate regulatory
permission is always required.
Why is tissue needed for research into
Parkinson's?
The UK PDS Tissue Bank, aims to provide a greater understanding of
the pathology of Parkinson's. This will help us to understand
better what causes Parkinson's and assist in the development of
better drug treatments for people with Parkinson's.
Tissue from people who do not have Parkinson's is of crucial
importance since it allows scientists to compare the tissue damaged
by Parkinson's with the normal situation.
The Tissue Bank aims to ensure that researchers have access to the
material that they require to carry out their studies. For example,
recent advances in genetics may soon explain why some nerve cells
die in Parkinson's and others are spared.
For more information, please contact the Tissue Bank by:
Email: pdbank@imperial.ac.uk
In writing:
UK Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank at Imperial
College
Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine
Burlington Danes Building
Imperial College London
160 Du Cane Road
London
W12 0NN
Tel: 020 7594 9732
Fax: 020 7594 9733
Website: www.parkinsonstissuebank.imperial.ac.uk
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