Editor's Choice

Help me design a LRRK2 study?
LRRK2 Summit
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
8 Mar 2010 04:17 PM EST
As an outcome from our December 2009 LRRK2 Summit and various follow-up discussions, there are clearly a number of basic questions around LRRK2 function that remain unanswered (or only partially ... 
Characterization of new BAC LRRK2 WT and G2019S mouse models - Q&A with Dr. Zhenyu Yue
New PD models available through MJFF-Jackson Labs partnership
Zhenyu Yue, Mt. Sinai, et al.
4 Feb 2010 11:25 AM EST
Dr. Zhenyu Yue of Mount Sinai School of Medicine discusses two new BAC Lrrk2 mouse models, recently published in Journal of Neuroscience.  As The Michael J. Fox Foundation partially funded this ... 
The authors describe a dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS)...
New study investigating Dopamine Agonist Withdrawal Syndrome in Parkinson's Disease
Irene Richard, Rochester
14 Jan 2010 01:23 PM EST
The authors describe a dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS) in the context of a retrospective cohort study.  The withdrawal syndrome occurred in 5 subjects among 26 who ... 
Key research priorities in 2010
Parkinson's Disease Society Announces 2010 Innovation Grants
Claire J Bale, PDS, et al.
11 Jan 2010 01:11 PM EST
The Parkinson’s Disease Society is the largest charity funder of Parkinson’s research in the UK. To date, we have invested over £45million into pioneering research. Our goal is to ... 
The MJFF LRRK2 Summit: Meeting Report and Key Take-Aways
LRRK2 Summit
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
24 Dec 2009 10:44 AM EST
On 9 December, MJFF held a LRRK2 Summit in New York City. The meeting brought together close to 30 external academic and industry scientists with MJFF staff to focus on one common goal: to accelerate ... 
Responses: 2
LRRK2 promotes alpha-synuclein-induced neuropathology in mouse models
LRRK2 and alpha-synuclein: Made for each other?
Darren J Moore, EPFL
23 Dec 2009 01:03 PM EST
Published this week in Neuron, Lin and colleagues elegantly demonstrate that LRRK2 can regulate the progression of neuropathology induced by mutant a-synuclein in mice. In a heroic modeling effort ... 
Responses: 1
Chair session summary from WFN 2009: What is the Future of the alpha-synuclein story and PD?
World Congress on PD & Related Disorders
Leonidas Stefanis, Academy of Athens
18 Dec 2009 10:08 AM EST
Dr. Stefanis argued that it is the synergy of multiple pieces of evidence from Mendelian genetics, population genetics, human pathology, animal models and biochemistry that suggests that ... 
GBA as a susceptibility factor for PD
Strong association between GBA mutations and Parkinson's disease
Adam S Bristol, BVF
29 Nov 2009 01:49 PM EST
I'm somewhat surprised that this paper has not received more attention than it has.  As Dr. Singleton mentioned in his post, the study was indeed a tour de force in that it coordinated a risk ... 
Polo Like Kinases as therapeutic targets in Parkinson’s disease and related synucleinopathies
MEMBERS' OPEN FORUM: for rapid-fire posting of your questions and comments.
Hilal A Lashuel, EPFL
17 Nov 2009 10:29 AM EST
Increasing evidence suggests that phosphorylation may play an important role in the oligomerization and fibrillogenesis (Fujiwara et al., 2002), Lewy body formation (Fujiwara et al., 2002; Anderson ... 
Treating depression in PD: Recent studies and ongoing clinical trials
MEMBERS' OPEN FORUM: for rapid-fire posting of your questions and comments.
Irene Richard, Rochester
12 Nov 2009 07:33 PM EST
Depression is common in PD and antidepressant medications are frequently prescribed. However, until recently there has been little evidence upon which to base treatment decisions.  In recent ... 
Investigating pesticide exposure and PD risk
How strong is the association between pesticide exposure and increased risk for Parkinson's disease and how do we translate this association into therapeutic strategies?
Beate Ritz, UCLA
28 Oct 2009 10:42 AM EST
Epidemiologic studies have consistently suggested that pesticide exposures heighten the risk of developing PD. Few studies have identified risk increases greater than 2-fold; occasionally risks are ... 
Responses: 1
Sonography and Hyperechogenicity
Hot Topics@SfN 2009
Daniel Lotz, UCSD
28 Oct 2009 12:38 AM EST
Just from my experience with the project, the actual process of acquiring the images is relatively simple task. All in all a patient's ipsilateral substantia nigra (a more accurate description would ... 
Responses: 1
PD subtypes: MJFF really needs your input
MJFF Asks: What should the next funding program on PD Subtypes look like?
Todd Sherer, MJFF
26 Oct 2009 03:23 PM EST
The MJFF has identified improving the understanding of PD subtypes as a priority research area for 2010.  Improving our understanding of PD subtypes can directly optimize the use of current PD ... 
Summary of SYMPOSIUM: Protein Networks Regulating Dopamine Homeostasis
Hot Topics@SfN 2009
Ruth G Perez, PITT
26 Oct 2009 10:28 AM EST
The SfN minisymposium “Protein Networks Regulating Dopamine Homeostasis” on October 20th, co-chaired by Ruth G. Perez and Gonzalo Torres of the University of Pittsburgh, revealed novel ... 
Estimates of LRRK2 G2019S carrier risk for PD?
Hot Topics@SfN 2009
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
22 Oct 2009 10:45 AM EST
Did anyone look at poster 827.26/G9 ("Estimation of risk to develop Parkinson disease in LRRK2-G2019S carrier using the kin-cohort method") from Goldwurm, Sr. and colleagues? ... 
Q&A: L-type Calcium channels and pacemaking in dopamine neurons
New Research: L-type Calcium channels are not necessary for pacemaking in SNc dopaminergic neurons
Jaime N Guzman, et al.
7 Sep 2009 02:48 PM EST
Dr. James Surmeier and colleagues discuss with Dr. Holli Kawadler of MJFF their new findings demonstrating L-type calcium channels are not necessary for pacemaking in SN dopamine neurons. ... 
Summary of previous MJFF PD Subtypes Program
MJFF Asks: What should the next funding program on PD Subtypes look like?
Todd Sherer, MJFF
25 Aug 2009 08:49 AM EST
In response to this RFI, it is worth mentioning that the MJFF has been investing in efforts to better define PD subtypes for the last few years. In 2007, we launched a ‘PD Subtypes’ ... 
Rapamycin activation of 4E-BP prevents DA neuronal loss in PD models - Q&A with Dr. Alex Whitworth
New Research: Rapamycin prevents dopaminergic neuron loss in PD models
Alexander J Whitworth, Sheffield
17 Aug 2009 09:39 AM EST
Dr. Alex Whitworth describes his latest findings, demonstrating rapamycin can prevent dopaminergic loss and PD pathology using Drosophila and mammalian PD models through activation of the translation ... 
H5N1 influenza virus induces neurodegeneration: Q&A with Dr. Richard Smeyne
New Research: H5N1 influenza virus induces PD-relevant neurodegeneration
Richard J Smeyne, St. Jude, et al.
10 Aug 2009 03:05 PM EST
Dr. Richard Smeyne spoke with Dr. Kirsten Carlson of MJFF about his new publication in PNAS: "Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus can enter the central nervous system and induce neuroinflammation ... 
Responses: 2
Cell-to-cell transmission of alpha-synuclein: Q&A with Dr. Seung-Jae Lee
New Research: Neuron-to-neuron transmission of alpha-synuclein
Seung-Jae Lee, Konkuk, et al.
29 Jul 2009 11:49 AM EST
Dr. Seung-Jae Lee spoke with Dr. Holli Kawadler of MJFF about the new study demonstrating direct cell-to-cell transmission of alpha-synuclein leading to inclusion formation and neuronal cell death. ... 
An intriguing advance in modeling neurodegeneration
Pre-Clinical Research Models
Mark Cookson, NIH
23 Jul 2009 04:39 PM EST
As outlined in the Q+A and in Paul Murphy’s response, this really is an intriguing step forward in the attempt to model neurodegeneration in laboratory animals.  I think it’s been ... 
Commentary on Kritzer et al. 2009
Targeting Alpha-Synuclein
Benjamin Wolozin, BU
13 Jul 2009 04:15 PM EST
In the current edition of Nature Chemical Biology, Dr. Lindquist's team reports a novel approach to identifying chemical inhibitors of protein toxicity.  This study has broad general relevance, ... 
Responses: 1
Response to: ACLU Challenges Patents On Breast Cancer Genes
ACLU Challenges Patents On Breast Cancer Genes
Adam S Bristol, BVF
10 Jul 2009 12:13 PM EST
I don't think the ACLU has a strong case here.  The USPTO has issued thousands of gene patents since the early 1990's when the first wave of scrutiny occurred.  To be patentable, work must ... 
Challenges in LRRK2 substrate identification
Which LRRK2 kinase substrates identified to date are most likely to be true physiological substrates? What limitations/barriers hinder identification of novel substrates?
Andrew B West, UAB
9 Jul 2009 08:10 PM EST
In thinking about LRRK2 kinase substrates, one first ponders whether LRRK2 even possesses the ability to phosphorylate other proteins in cells, and that LRRK2 kinase activity is not exclusive to ... 
Synuclein as a LRRK2 substrate
Which LRRK2 kinase substrates identified to date are most likely to be true physiological substrates? What limitations/barriers hinder identification of novel substrates?
Mark Cookson, NIH
9 Jul 2009 04:53 PM EST
A recent article by Qing et al proposing that synuclein is a direct substrate of LRRK2 illustrates many of the reasons why progress in identifying substrates can be difficult - for every exciting new ...