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Basic Research
Research at the Parkinson’s Institute involves a multidisciplinary and interactive approach toward the overall goal of understanding the natural history of Parkinson’s disease (as well as related neurological disorders), finding its cause and developing better treatments. Specific lines of inquiry into the cause, cure and prevention of the disease are more effectively pursued through (i) the coordinated efforts of investigators with different scientific background and expertise (e.g. molecular biology, pharmacology and toxicology), and (ii) the use of state-of-the-art experimental tools at the molecular, cellular and whole organism levels. The close interaction between our scientists and clinicians provides a direct mechanism for translational laboratory-to-patient research.
Examples of current research endeavors at the Parkinson’s Institute include investigations into environmental, genetic and age-related risk factors for Parkinson’s disease, mechanisms of selective dopaminergic cell injury, the role of a-synuclein in disease pathogenesis, mechanisms of dyskinesias and new neuroprotective strategies (e.g. agents that counteract a-synuclein fibrillation, treatment with nicotine or nicotinic receptor agonists, and stimulation of endogenous stem cells).
Clinical Research
The Clinical Research department at the Parkinson's Institute is composed of world-renowned scientists, neurologists, physicians, epidemiologists and toxicologists working as an interdisciplinary team to conduct groundbreaking research in the field of neurological diseases. Clinical research involves human participants and is a component of medical and health research intended to improve the understanding of disease and lead to discoveries that may prevent or treat illness.
Clinical Research at the Parkinson's Institute is involved in a variety of exciting epidemiological studies that examine the relationship of environmental and genetic risk factors that may be involved in causing Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Disease risk factors under study include age, sex, genes, occupation, place of residence exposure to toxic chemicals, and many other characteristics. These studies could not be completed without the generous contribution of time and information from people with and without neurological disease.
With the help and cooperation of people in communities worldwide, the department is successfully conducting many important studies that contribute to the understanding of the cause(s) and cure for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.