We're investing over £280,000 to accelerate the development of new Parkinson's drugs
Our latest Drug Accelerator Awards will support new projects aiming to develop better treatments for Parkinson's.
Currently, there are no treatments that can stop or slow Parkinson's. And for many people, existing drugs come with complicated side effects. Our Drug Accelerator Awards aim to address these challenges, driving forward the discovery and development of better drugs for people with Parkinson's.
Paul, who lives with Parkinson's and is a member of the panel who helps chose what we fund, said:
"The drug accelerator awards can be hard to review because everything is so distant from the patient. But now we have meetings before we review the applications, so we get to understand the science a bit before we have to review whether or not a project should be funded.
"Those meetings happened because I gave them feedback that it could work better. The Parkinson's UK Research Grants team really care about people's feedback, and they really care about making these programs work and making sure they add value."
We're delighted to announce new funding for 2 leading researchers.
Professor Neil McDonald and Dr Kaitlyn Cramb will collectively receive over £280,000 to fund their research. Read a summary of their research below.
Our newly funded projects
Making dopamine work better for people with Parkinson's
Lead researcher: Dr Kaitlyn Cramb, University of Oxford
Funding awarded: £149,267
Current treatments for Parkinson's replace a chemical called dopamine, which is lost in the brain when cells that produce dopamine die. Dopamine helps brain cells communicate with one another, but to do so, cells must be able to process and package dopamine. Evidence suggests that this packaging process isn't working properly in people with Parkinson's. This may contribute to the side effects of Parkinson's medication.
Kaitlyn's team aims to find a molecule which can successfully help brain cells process and use dopamine better. They'll test thousands of molecules in brain cells in the lab. The aim is to identify new drugs that can reduce the side effects of existing Parkinson's medication.
Kaitlyn shared: "I'm incredibly excited to have been awarded this Drug Accelerator Award to develop a new Parkinson's therapy, with the aim of making dopamine replacement strategies safer and more effective for people with Parkinson's. I'm immensely grateful to Parkinson's UK and everyone who donates to and supports the cause, making this research possible."
Creating a brain-friendly treatment to shield and recover brain cells in Parkinson's
Lead researcher: Professor Neil McDonald, The Francis Crick Institute
Funding awarded: £132,618
The brain naturally produces a growth factor called Glial Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF). GDNF is a protein that protects and promotes the recovery of dopamine-producing brain cells, the cells which are lost in Parkinson's. However, previous research has found that using GDNF as a treatment for Parkinson's is challenging due to its size, making it difficult to deliver the drug to the right place in the brain.
Neil's team has designed a molecule called 1D9 which acts like GDNF, but is built to be able to travel into the brain. The researchers will test 1D9 on Parkinson's brain cells grown in the lab to see if it can stop cells from dying and help repair damage. This could help develop a completely new class of medicines that actively shield, repair, and reconnect vital brain cells.
Neil shared: "I'm delighted to receive the Drug Accelerator Award from Parkinson's UK. Neurotrophic factors like GDNF offer potential curative solutions for Parkinson's but have delivery and availability limitations. We're developing molecules that are able to copy the protective functions of GDNF, but with much better drug-like properties.
"This funding will support our efforts to show that these mimics are safe, can be delivered to the right place and are effective at restoring the function of dopamine-producing cells in Parkinson's."
Research can apply for funding to help accelerate novel drug development for the treatment of Parkinson's.
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