Alpha-synuclein Summit

MJFF has identified alpha-synuclein as a priority area of research to promote and facilitate translation of alpha-synuclein discoveries into therapeutics. To date, our efforts have focused on understanding the function of alpha-synuclein, developing relevant tools and assays, and supporting multiple strategies towards alpha-synuclein based therapeutics.  With this in mind, the goal of the Alpha-synuclein Summit will be to assess the current state of the field, examine what activity is currently ongoing (including MJFF efforts), determine what the remaining challenges are, and ultimately recommend ways MJFF and the field can advance future alpha-synuclein efforts.  

This meeting will take place in New York at the MJFF offices on 13-14 January, 2010.  All PD Online members are invited to participate in the summit by posting commentary here (login and click 'add response')

Your posts will be brought to the summit and will be entered into the discussion.

Responses:
Are alpha-synucleinpathies really prion-like diseases?
Thomas Ciossek, Boehringer Ingelheim
8 Jan 2010 09:38 AM EST
Hi, ... 
Responses: 1
The Alpha-Synuclein Summit has started...
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010 01:35 PM EST
The Alpha-Synuclein Summit discussion has begun... ... 
Defining the alpha-synuclein target
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010 03:04 PM EST
Jennifer Johnston (Elan) has been leading a discussion about the status of alpha-synuclein as a validated 'target' and whether industry can view this as a druggable target. ... 
Responses: 1
Targeting synuclein
Holli Kawadler, MJFF
14 Jan 2010 03:59 PM EST
There was a ton of discussion surrounding the druggability of synuclein, especially as many of the people in the room are currently developing synuclein as a therapeutic both in academia and ... 
What do we want to see pre-clinically before moving an alpha-synuclein therapy to the clinic?
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010 04:01 PM EST
Warren Hirst (Pfizer) has laid out some key areas for discussion about the kinds of pre-clinical tools we need to facilitate drug discovery and decision making around potential alpha-synuclein ... 
Building toward the first alpha-synuclein clinical trial
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010 05:20 PM EST
Franz Hefti (Avid Radiopharmaceuticals) has provided an end-of-meeting, thought-provoking overview of the kinds of ingredients needed to do a trial of a promising alpha-synuclein therapy by comparing ... 
A-synuclein as a target in PD: What is the target?
Jennifer Johnston, Elan
25 Jan 2010 09:19 PM EST
Dr. Jennifer Johnston has posted her slides from the Alpha-synuclein Summit on "Alpha-synuclein as a target in PD: What is the target?"   ... 
What would an alpha-synuclein clinical trial look like?
Franz F Hefti, Avid
27 Jan 2010 10:06 AM EST
Dr. Franz Hefti has posted the slides from his talk on "What Would an Alpha-synuclein Clinical Trial Look Like?" ... 
Synuclein as a prion?
Holli Kawadler, MJFF
27 Jan 2010 06:51 PM EST
There was some healthy debate over this question at the summit. Here were the main points of discussion: ... 
Session Slides: Translation from Bench to Clinic
Warren Hirst, Pfizer
29 Jan 2010 02:35 PM EST
Dr. Warren Hirst has posted his slides from the MJFF Alpha-synuclein Summit on "Translation from Bench to Clinic."   ... 
Alpha-synuclein Summit: MJFF Summary and Outcomes Report
Mark Frasier, MJFF, et al.
8 Feb 2010 11:30 AM EST
MJFF recently hosted a Summit to discuss the translation of alpha-synuclein discoveries into meaningful therapies for patients. Below are some takeaways from the discussion. ... 
DOPAL triggers alpha-synuclein aggregation
William J. Burke, SLU
11 Feb 2010 12:41 PM EST
Alpha-synuclein (AS) is a normal constituent of neurons. It  becomes toxic when it aggregates to form oligomers or larger aggregates. The movement disorder in Parkinson disease (PD) is due to ... 
Take-aways from the Alpha-synuclein Summit
Tiago F Outeiro, IMMED
16 Feb 2010 04:30 PM EST
More research is needed to uncover the normal function of alpha-synuclein - avoid biases in existing models, generate new models, and think outside the box.  How alpha-synuclein causes toxicity ... 
Top Points from the Synuclein Summit
Poul H Jensen, Aarhus
26 Feb 2010 11:55 AM EST
PD is not only a dopamine deficiency disease – we should focus on the other aspects of the disease progression to prevent the wide spread disabling pathogenesis Identification of ... 
Synuclein Summit Take-aways
Evangelia Emmanouilidou, BioAcademy
26 Feb 2010 02:21 PM EST
1. There is an increasing interest for the development of alpha-synuclein-based imaging techniques, especially for ones targeted to specific species. However, it seems like much more work is needed ... 
Synuclein Summit Take-aways
Warren Hirst, Pfizer
26 Feb 2010 05:36 PM EST
1) There is still a need for more research to better understand both the normal and pathological functions of alpha-synuclein.  This will allow for the development of novel therapeutics ... 
Alpha-synuclein Summit Take-aways
Michael Sierks, ASU
4 Mar 2010 12:47 PM EST
1)      Alpha-synuclein is an important and validated therapeutic target for PD.  While this was generally accepted at the meeting, this statement is not so generally ... 
Contributions:
Building toward the first alpha-synuclein clinical trial
Alpha-synuclein Summit
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010
Franz Hefti (Avid Radiopharmaceuticals) has provided an end-of-meeting, thought-provoking overview of the kinds of ingredients needed to do a trial of a promising alpha-synuclein therapy by comparing ... 
The Alpha-Synuclein Summit has started...
Alpha-synuclein Summit
Brian K. Fiske, MJFF
14 Jan 2010
The Alpha-Synuclein Summit discussion has begun... ...