Research
EMERGING DRUG TARGETS:
TAKING MORE SHOTS ON GOAL
by KRISHNA KNABE
THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION (MJFF)
takes a holistic approach to finding improved
treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
We support research to define, measure and
treat Parkinson’s. Each time scientists uncover
a new finding that helps us define the causes of
Parkinson’s, they give us a potential new target
for drugs to treat it. In 2018, we supported 17
new projects through our Target Advancement
Program. These diverse research studies are
helping us understand new targets and translate
that knowledge into the development of
Parkinson’s treatments.
EMERGING GENETIC TARGETS
We continue to learn more about genes associated
with Parkinson’s disease, and how they affect
processes and pathways in our brains. Multiple
teams are examining how mutations in the PRKN
and PINK1 genes disrupt normal processes of
mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. Other
teams are investigating alpha-synuclein, a protein
encoded by the gene SNCA. Researchers are
looking into targets that interact with or regulate
alpha-synuclein, such as glycoproteins, calcium
channels and even other genes.
INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is a friend and foe in the brain.
It can protect cells from infection but, when it
becomes chronic, can damage those same cells.
Multiple groups of researchers are exploring
targets that can lessen that damage while
preserving beneficial immune response.
NOVEL TARGETS
One of the core values of MJFF is our willingness
to take risks on new ideas, when the science
supports it. Several of the targets we are funding
represent the bright edge of Parkinson’s research,
but they have the potential to develop into the
most exciting drugs in the pipeline. One of these
novel targets is neuromelanin, a dark pigment that
appears to accumulate in people with Parkinson’s.
MJFF funding seeks to validate as many new
targets as possible so researchers can develop
therapies for them. Our goal is a diverse pipeline
of treatments heading toward the patients who
need them.
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The Fox Focus