The Michael J. Fox Foundation funds the University of Verona for the new study on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
New funding launched for neuroreistor therapy
New developments in the fight against Parkinson’s. Thanks to an important loan from the prestigious American Michael J. Fox FoundationPharmacology researcher Giovanna Paolone will be able to understand the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in a specific population of patients affected by this disease.
The research will be conducted in collaboration with Johan Lundkvisk and Lars Wahlberg of Swedish biotech “Biotherapeutic Symphony“. The aim of the research is to block and treat neurodegeneration through a release system based on gene therapy that allows the secretion of therapeutic factors directly into the damaged areas of the brain.
“The therapeutic approach that we intend to develop – explains Giovanna – is not aimed at the generic patient but is tailor-made for patients who have certain characteristics linked to a gene specification. Consequently, we intend to act simultaneously on the damage induced by this mutation and treat the neurodegeneration that characterizes the disease.
The mutation is at the level of the gene GBA1 and it is considered one of the main genetic risk factors in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s “.
“We are very grateful to the foundation for supporting our studies which, benefiting from the collaboration between academia and industry, facilitate the development of a new therapy for patients with Parkinson’s,” said Giovanna Paolone.