Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Companies Using AI to Identify Small Molecules to Treat Parkinson’s

Iktos is working with Astrogen to use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify small molecules as candidates for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Under the collaboration’s terms, Iktos will apply its proprietary machine-learning algorithm to virtually “sketch”molecules directed against a defined target and shortlist candidates for preclinical studies, the companies…

FDA Awards Final Approval to Entacapone Generic for Wearing-off

Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its generic version of entacapone as an add-on therapy for treating end-of-dose “wearing off” in Parkinson’s disease, the company announced. These entacapone tablets are “therapeutically equivalent” to Comtan and treat the motor…

Argobio Partners With GeneCode to Develop GDNF Mimetics

Argobio and GeneCode are teaming up to develop small molecules mimicking glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a protein that helps nerve cells survive, for the treatment of Parkinson’s and other diseases. The collaboration builds on previous work by researchers at GeneCode, who together with Mart Saarma, PhD,…

Video Selfies May One Day Help in Diagnosing Parkinson’s

A computer software that tracks how facial muscles move during a video selfie may be able to help predict whether a person is likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, a study reported. The study involved the use of the PARK test, a web-based application designed to detect and objectively measure…

Targeted Gene Therapy Boosts Levodopa’s Benefits in Mouse Study

A gene therapy targeting the substantia nigra, the brain region with dopamine-producing nerve cells, may boost the benefits of levodopa for people with Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. This idea was tested in a new mouse disease model — one in which Parkinson’s symptoms appeared after disrupting a protein…

Mission Earns MJFF Grant to Develop Familial Parkinson’s Treatment

Mission Therapeutics has been awarded a Therapeutic Pipeline Program grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to advance development of its USP30 deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors for the treatment of familial Parkinson’s disease. The grant, worth about $500,000, will be used to test these inhibitors in animals that model…

New DBS Protocol Has Lasting Effects in Mice

A deep brain stimulation (DBS) protocol that targets specific sets of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain produced long-lasting effects in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. The new protocol, which uses brief bursts of electrical stimulation, offered effects that lasted hours longer than those of conventional DBS. The study,…