News

Study uncovers previously unknown role of parkin in dopamine signaling

The parkin enzyme — whose loss is a known genetic risk factor of Parkinson’s disease — not only helps to regulate healthy activity of energy-generating mitochondria, but also plays critical roles in nerve cell communication, according to a study using patient-derived neurons. Particularly, parkin loss resulted in defective recycling…

Researchers win Breakthrough Prize for genetics discoveries

The 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences has been awarded to three researchers who made groundbreaking discoveries related to the genetic causes of Parkinson’s disease. Breakthrough Prizes, popularly called the “Oscars of Science,” honor researchers who’ve made impactful discoveries across the life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics. There were…

Measuring eye movements may help track Parkinson’s progression

A platform developed by NeuraLight that uses machine learning to measure eye movements may help track the progression of Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. “NeuraLight’s technology enables us to assess the patient’s neurological status in a sensitive and objective way. The results of this study mark an important…

Gain Therapeutics cleared to start GT-02287 Phase 1 trial in Australia

An ethics committee in Australia has cleared Gain Therapeutics to start a Phase 1 clinical trial testing GT-02287, the company’s experimental oral therapy for Parkinson’s disease associated with mutations in the GBA1 gene. GT-02287 now will become the first treatment candidate discovered with Gain’s proprietary platform, SEE-Tx, to…

MJFF grant supports therapies for PRKN-related disease

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) has awarded a $4.5 million grant to Nine Square Therapeutics to advance the development of potential treatments for a genetic form of Parkinson’s disease. “The Michael J. Fox Foundation grant will go toward accelerating the identification of drug…