10 Fox Focus | Research
The Image Worth a Decade of Scientific Resolve ( continued )
competition is made possible by the support of Ken Griffin , founder and CEO of global alternative investment firm Citadel , whose father lives with PD .
Those initiatives are paying off . “ This is certainly not the finish line , but it proves that an alpha-synuclein PET tracer is feasible ,” says Eberling . It ’ s important to note , AC Immune ’ s tracer did not show differences in alpha-synuclein in people with idiopathic PD versus control volunteers , which thus far has stumped researchers . Rather than give up , they tested the tracer in individuals with multiple system atrophy ( MSA ) — a related parkinsonism . In MSA , there may be more alpha-synuclein present , accumulating faster and in different regions of the brain , which makes it easier to detect with PET imaging . These findings could have immediate impact on diagnosing and treating people with MSA , commonly misdiagnosed as PD . As the project continues , AC Immune and Lund University are evaluating additional diseases , including genetic PD .
“ There ’ s every reason to think that we will have a tracer that also works in PD very soon ,” says Eberling .
“ This is a transformative step toward achieving our vision for developing precision medicines to treat neurodegenerative diseases . It was made possible by the close collaboration between AC Immune , Skåne University Hospital , Lund University and MJFF ,” said Professor Andrea Pfeifer , CEO of AC Immune . “ We look forward to continuing the collaboration to expand on these results .”
Parkinson ’ s researchers viewed the first images of alphasynuclein in the living brain in Barcelona , Spain , last March .
Other groups are also making headway in the development of alpha-synuclein tracers . The Ken Griffin Alpha-synuclein Imaging Competition concludes this fall , when scientists will have the opportunity to evaluate data from the other awardees , Merck and Mass General Brigham , as well . Another MJFF grantee , German biotechnology company MODAG , hopes to have data from studies of their alpha-synuclein tracer this year . Alpha-synuclein accumulates in the brain in multiple forms , and these different forms may have an impact on symptoms in Parkinson ’ s and other diseases that involve alpha-synuclein , such as dementia with Lewy bodies . Varying forms of alpha-synuclein may require multiple tracers . More tracers mean better diagnosis and therapies for all .
For Eberling , the real fulfillment came when she presented the news to the Foundation ’ s Patient Council , advisors who bring the patient perspective to MJFF ’ s work . “ These individuals have trusted me to get the job done and finally , I could provide some hope and encouragement around this elusive target we ’ ve been chasing for years ,” she says .