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

DJ-1 Protein Loss Linked to Longer-lasting Immune Response

Loss of a protein called DJ-1, which is linked to the development of early-onset Parkinson’s disease, may also mean a longer-lasting immune response, according to a new study. Researchers observed that immunoaging — a decline in immune function with aging — was slowed in a man with Parkinson’s who…

Planned Phase 3 Trials of Oral Buntanetap to Span Disease Stages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given positive feedback to Annovis Bio’s plans to start two Phase 3 clinical trials of buntanetap (ANVS401) as an oral therapy for early- and late-stage Parkinson’s disease. The feedback followed a review of data from a Phase 2 clinical trial showing significant…

Dosing Starts in Canada in Trial of DA01 for Advanced Parkinson’s

A first patient in Canada has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of DA01, a cell-based investigational therapy for advanced Parkinson’s disease by BlueRock Therapeutics. The therapy consists of surgically injecting neurons (nerve cells) that make dopamine — and which are damaged and die with Parkinson’s — into…

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…