Parkinson's Disease

Research Coordinator

Dr. Charo Sánchez Pernaute

Description

Parkinson Disease is one of the most frequent neurodegenerative disorders with an estimated prevalence of 0.3 to 1.1 %. Parkinson disease -like many chronic degenerative disorders-, is age related and due to the significant aging of the population in Spain and other Western countries, is turning into a critical health and social policy issue.

Parkinson Disease results from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, i.e. DA neurons, in the substantia nigra. These neurons are located in the midbrain and send their axons into the striatum where they release DA to modulate the function of corticostriatal circuitry. Replacement therapy with levodopa (the DA precursor) loses efficacy with disease progresion, because there are fewer remaining neurons and axons able to decarboxylate exogenous levodopa, and to store and regulate the release of DA as necessary.

Cell replacement therapy for Parkinson Disease seeks to replace dead neurons in the midbrain and to restore regulated neural transmision in the nigrostriatal system. One of the objectives in our research program in Inbiomed is to obtain an adequate cell source to generate functional DA neurons for cell replacement. These neurons need to have all the necessary machinery to restablish appropriate connexions with striatal neurons and restore homeostasis in the basal ganglia. Our efforts are focused on pluripotent stem cells to obtain authentic functional DA neurons and adult stem cells to attenuate the degenerative process.

Research agreements and special collaborations

Biodonostia and Hospital Donostia Neurogenetics Unit Dr A López de Munain.

University of the Basque Country (UPV), Medical School, Prof Luisa Ugedo.

Neurogenesis and Neural Stem Cells Consortium (funded by kutxa Obra social).

Prof JM García Verdugo, CIPF, Valencia.
Dra MR Luquin, CIMA, University of Navarra.

University of Harvard, HMS, McLean Hospital; Dr KC Sonntag.

Sloane Kettering Institute: Dr L Stude.r