Kolling Institute researchers will help drive an exciting international project to identify the genetic links to Parkinson\u2019s disease and new ways to treat the debilitating disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program will bring together leading researchers from Sweden, the United States and Australia after a $12.5 million grant from the Aligning Science Across Parkinson\u2019s initiative, which will be administered by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson\u2019s Research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kolling Institute\u2019s Executive Director Professor Carolyn Sue is thrilled to be involved as an investigator, with the degenerative movement disorder impacting more than six million people worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cParkinson\u2019s disease is one of the biggest neurological health challenges this century, affecting an increasing number of people due to our ageing population,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Professor Sue, who is also the Director of Neurogenetics at Royal North Shore Hospital, said the project will use state-of-art technologies and a very specialised approach involving gene editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cOur research will investigate three specific genes linked to the disease, including the LRRK2, PARKIN and A-SYNUCLEIN genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy understanding how genes contribute to Parkinson\u2019s disease, we will be in a better position to identify new therapies that could slow the disease process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven if we slow the process by a small amount, the impact on patients will be significant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two members of Professor Sue\u2019s neuroscience research team will also join the three-year project, including Dr Ryan Davis and Dr Gautam Wali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have world leading expertise in this field and have been selected to take part after a global search for innovative programs to speed-up the search for the next generation of treatments for Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis collaborative project will see our team work with other world leading experts, including Professor Deniz Kirik from Lund University, who will be the lead investigator on the project for the University of Sydney as an Honorary Professor, and Professor Glenda Halliday from the Brain and Mind Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTogether we will work to unravel some of the fundamental mechanisms that cause Parkinson\u2019s disease and help to develop new ways to treat the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe program illustrates the importance of our translational research at the Kolling Institute, where we can directly incorporate scientific breakthroughs to improve clinical care for our patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt also highlights the significance of a collaborative approach, where we can harness the strengths and expertise from multiple institutions, including the Northern Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney to accelerate our research progress.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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