Neurotrophic Factors

Neurogenic Pathways, Promoting Neurotrophic Processes, Compensatory & Neuronal Health Mechanisms

Cell health and survival is promoted by trophic factors, which operate during development and adulthood. There is no strong evidence that PD is caused by a trophic factor deficiency, but neurotrophic factors are considered attractive as possible neurorestorative or neuroprotective therapeutics.  Identified neurotrophic factors include GDNF, Neurturin, Persephin, Artemin, CDNF, BDNF, FGF20, and Pleiotrophin.

Responses:
Investigating the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism
Jamie L Eberling, MJFF
18 Sep 2009 04:01 PM EST
A new report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the targeting of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcripts to ... 
Contributions:
The MJFF Neurotrophic Factor RFA: Why we're still interested
Michael J. Fox Foundation Commits Up to $5 Million to Help Advance Neurotrophic Factors 'From Promise to Reality' as Parkinson's Treatment
Jamie L Eberling, MJFF, et al.
23 Sep 2009
Today, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) announced the launch of a new Directed LEAPS (Linked Efforts to Accelerate Parkinson’s Solutions) program focused on ... 
MANF is neurorestorative in a PD rat model - Q&A with Dr. Mart Saarma
Does GDNF still have potential as a treatment for Parkinson's disease?
Mart Saarma, Helsinki, et al.
13 Aug 2009
JE: You are an author on a new paper that was published in the July 29th issue of the Journal of Neuroscience (Voutilainen et al., 2009) that compares the neuroprotective and ... 
it appears most believe so
Does GDNF still have potential as a treatment for Parkinson's disease?
Matthew J During, Ohio State
12 Aug 2009
I am late to this forum, but as many of you know, I have always been a little skeptical regarding GDNF, neurturin or any growth factor for that matter, and their therapeutic potential in advanced ... 
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Research Questions:
How can we improve brain delivery of trophic factors? The Myth of Convection Enhanced Delivery?
29 Oct 2009
The direct delivery of proteins and genes to the brain by surgical techniques is hampered by the limited diffusion of the molecules into the target area. Convection Enhanced Delivery utilizes ... 
Responses: 6
Does GDNF still have potential as a treatment for Parkinson's disease?
13 Aug 2009
The decision by Amgen to halt the GDNF human trials was met with controversy and a vocal response from the patient community.  While some serious concerns were raised regarding the safety of ... 
Responses: 23
Is nasal delivery a viable option for trophic factor delivery to the brain?
29 Apr 2009
Neurotrophic factors have great potential as neuroprotective drugs for Parkinson's disease but their delivery from the blood to the brain is poor, necessitating neurosurgical strategies to achieve ... 
Responses: 1
News:
Michael J. Fox Foundation Commits Up to $5 Million to Help Advance Neurotrophic Factors 'From Promise to Reality' as Parkinson's Treatment
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has committed up to $5 million for research to successfully translate neurotrophic factor advances from pre-clinical and early-phase clinical work into a practical, ... 
23 Sep 2009
Responses: 1
New Research: Neuregulin1 promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation and repair of heart injury
Published today in Cell, Bersell et al. demonstrate the trophic factor Neuregulin1 and its receptor, tyrosine-kinase receptor ErbB4, can promote proliferation of cardiomyocytes, thought to be ... 
24 Jul 2009
Related Clinical Trials:
Double-Blind, Multicenter, Sham Surgery Controlled Study of CERE-120 For Efficacy and Safety in Subjects With Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease
14 Nov 2006
The purpose of this double blind study is to determine whether CERE-120 (adeno-associated virus serotype 2 [AAV2]-neurturin [NTN]) is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with idiopathic ...