NPF Research

There is a strong multi-disciplinary research effort into uncovering the causes and understanding the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and into developing new treatments. There are a large number of both basic and clinical research studies ongoing, of which the following are representative.

Dendritic spine plasticity in Parkinson’s Disease

Drs. Ariel Deutch, Roger Colbran, Tom Montine, Diana Neely, and Danny Winder are examining changes in the striatal neurons that receive dopamine inputs in Parkinson’s disease, under the support of an NINDS program project grant. These basic science studies focus on understanding the long-term deleterious effects of the loss of dopamine on cells in the striatum, and hope to develop new strategy aimed at improving treatment of long-term Parkinson’s disease patients and slowing progression of symptoms.

Invertebrate models of Parkinson's Disease

Drs. Richard Nass, Randy Blakey, David Miller, and colleagues have developed a model of Parkinson’s disease in the roundworm C. elegans. Their studies are proving new insights into how the actions of dopamine are terminated under normal and pathological conditions, and genetically altered worms have provided a novel way of screening compounds that may either cause degeneration of dopamine neurons or prevent degeneration. “In addition, Dr. Peter Hedera is investigating genetic factors in movement disorders using the roundworm. Dr. Michael Cooper is examining the mechanisms the dictate development of dopamine neurons, using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model organism.”

Research on autonomic nervous system dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders

The mechanisms that contribute to autonomic dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders — including multi-system atrophy (Shy-Drager disease) — are being studied by Drs. David Robertson, Italo Bignami, Randy Blakey, Rose Robertson, Stephen Davis, and associates. These basic and clinical studies range from examination of genetic factors to novel treatment approaches.

Genetic bases of familial Parkinson's disease and related disorders

Drs. Jonathan Haines, Stephen Lee, Peter Hedera, and colleagues at Vanderbilt are working on defining the genetic bases of inherited forms of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. Working in the Program in Human Genetics (http://phg.mc.vanderbilt.edu/) Dr. Haines and colleagues have identifies novel genes, alterations in which may increase the risk for development of early-onset familial parkinsonism.

Clinical Research in Parkinson's Disease

Drs. Tom Davis, John Fang, David Charles, and David Robinson spearhead an active clinical research program. Several trials of different medications for Parkinson's disease patients and MSA patients are being conducted; interested persons should contact the clinical coordinator, Dot Shearon, R.N. at (615) 936-0219.

In addition, Drs. Peter Konrad and Chris Coe, together with Drs. Charles and Davis, lead trials of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and new surgical approaches to the treatment of movement disorders.