I was lucky enough to get a one-on-one talk with a staff member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) this week, and she was lucky enough to stay for dinner and have some of the wife's Gazpacho.
The following are notes from memory that I wrote up after she left. They are in no particular order, just a stream of consciousness.
They have done a genetics/environment combination study. Evidently they did a study which found 11 markers when found in some combinations, increase the risk of PD if you are also exposed to some life factor (ie pesticide, brain injury, etc). Pure genetic PD is still considered rare, but a focus area of research, because treatments that arise out of genetics can be used for everyone. The genetics give clues to how the genes effect all PD patients.
They are focusing research on cures AND stopping/reversing progression. One other focus is developing a clinical test that determines not only if you have PD but your progression so clinical trials can have measurable results. Unlike the UPDRS, this would be an objective measure via blood work, brain scan, etc.
Stem cells are seen as longer term because they are more likely to cause harm so treatment has to be perfect. Big areas are genetics and protein based treatments. Big issue is delivery method to get past blood-brain barrier. One study is looking at DBS-like treatment using drugs instead of surgery. Another looks at using alternative receptors/transmitters to help control motor function as Dopamine production drops.
We also talked about how the science is funded and how they are changing it. Scientists receive grants for new ideas while pharma needs to make a profit, so they're trying to fill the gap between good new ideas that have no development behind them to show there is a profit in the future.
Hope the notes help and give to the MJFF.
