We’re funding 3 new projects exploring ways of slowing down Parkinson’s
The newly funded projects explore different underlying causes of Parkinson’s, and work towards new drugs to treat the condition.
We’ve led Parkinson’s research for over 50 years, investing more than £130 million since 1969. And we do this by funding every stage of Parkinson’s research, from understanding the causes of the condition, to developing new and better treatments.
We’re pleased to announce over £600,000 in funding for 3 new research projects that are dedicated to building on what we know so far about the causes of Parkinson’s, and turning this knowledge into treatments.
Exploiting our brain’s waste disposal systems while we sleep
We’ve been supporting and funding researcher Dr Ian Harrison since 2019. His work explores the brain’s self-cleaning process, called the glymphatic system, and how it's involved in Parkinson’s.
While we sleep, the glymphatic system kicks into action, clearing away any build up of waste products that has gathered throughout the day. But research shows that in people with Parkinson’s, the glymphatic system might not be working properly. Leaving a build up of waste that, over time, could damage brain cells. This is a particular problem for those who struggle to reach deep sleep, where the glymphatic system is most active.
Since our initial investment, Dr Harrison has expanded this work and is now exploring whether a new drug might help boost the glymphatic system by improving deep sleep. In this latest round of funding, we’ve awarded his lab nearly £200,000 to see whether a new drug designed to improve deep sleep can boost the brain’s ability to clear away harmful proteins like alpha-synuclein and protect brain cells in mice.
If successful, this research could open up a completely new way to treat Parkinson’s. One that works with the brain’s own natural defences to keep it healthy for longer, while also improving sleep and overall wellbeing for people living with the condition.
Dr Ian Harrison explains how vital our funding is: "Without this support, I would not have been able to establish my group and lab, or gain the scientific independence needed to pursue collaborations and explore the science that drives discovery.
"Every donation, large or small, becomes real progress in our lab, powering the data that helps turn breakthroughs into potential new Parkinson's therapies."
Our newly funded projects
Our decisions about what to fund are guided by the priorities of people with Parkinson’s, and chosen by a panel of scientists and people in the Parkinson’s community to make sure what we’re funding has an impact.
Christopher is a member of the panel who helps review and select what we fund. He said:
"It has been a pleasure as a lay grant reviewer to take part in the process of evaluating a range of research grant proposals. It's heartening to know that many projects are underway aiming to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s."
Read a summary of our other newly funded research projects below.
Can blocking harmful fats protect brain cells in Parkinson's?
Lead researcher: Dr Helen Waller-Evans, Cardiff University
Funding awarded: £136,499
Some people with Parkinson’s have a small change in a gene called GBA1, which is known to increase someone’s risk of developing the condition. This small change disrupts the body’s ability to break down specific forms of fat in the brain.
One of these fatty substances, called glucosylsphingosine, builds up to high levels in some people with Parkinson’s, and is thought to play a key role in the development of the condition. This is because it causes a troublesome protein, called alpha-synuclein, to clump together in the brain. These clumps are harmful and contribute to the development and progression of the condition.
This study hopes to understand whether a drug designed to reduce production of this fatty substance could reduce alpha-synuclein clumping. The researchers aim to test the drugs in lab-grown brain cells. If successful, this could pave the way for a promising new treatment to be trialled for people with GBA-related Parkinson’s.
Understanding the role of Galectin-3 in Parkinson’s
Lead researcher: Professor Helene Plun-Favreau, University College London
Funding awarded: £277,706
A key feature of Parkinson’s is that cell batteries, called mitochondria, aren’t working properly. Damaged mitochondria are removed naturally by the body through a process called mitophagy, where damaged bits of mitochondria are broken up and recycled. But in Parkinson’s, this process doesn’t work as it should.
The research team will explore why mitophagy might be affected in people with Parkinson’s. They aim to do this by focusing on a gene that contains the instructions to make a protein called Galectin-3. Previous research has shown that Galectin-3 could be linked to mitophagy in brain cells.
The project aims to improve our understanding of what Galectin-3 does in Parkinson’s, and could help bring to light a new avenue for treating Parkinson’s that we haven’t explored before.
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Our research volunteers help us with all aspects of our research programme. From helping choose what we fund, to spreading the word about research in their local communities, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
We’re currently committing over £40.8 million into our research programme across 54 projects, from cause to cure. Take a look at what we're funding, based on the priorities of people with Parkinson's.