Parkinson's Disease | Parkinson's Research Facilities

Rockefeller University
The Stern Center at The Rockefeller University

Under the direction of Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard, the Stern Center at The Rockefeller University has concentrated their research on discovering why, of the two major populations of dopamine neurons in the brain, one is more susceptible to cell death in PD than the other.

Dr. Greengard’s scientist have created a very sensitive method for separating these two types of neurons that has allowed the identification of many differences in their gene function. This is expected to provide new drug targets for the treatment of PD. Drugs that address these targets would have the potential to arrest disease progression.

They have discovered a major new signaling pathway in the brain that is based on ribonucleic acid (RNA). These regulatory RNAs (also called micro RNA) appear to control the functions of specific genes that are required for neuronal survival. An understanding of these RNAs may give us the power to prevent death of neurons in diseases such as PD.

A further major discovery has been a mechanism in neurons that regulates the expression of serotonin receptors. These play a major role in mood and depression and are indirect targets of most anti-depressant medications. The regulatory mechanism was revealed by the discovery of the function of a protein called “P11.” This information is expected to usher in a new class of extremely effective drugs to treat the depression associated with PD. .

Harvard University

At Harvard University’s McLean Hospital, we support the research of Dr. Ole Isacson whose research lab, The Stern Center for Neuroregeneration Research is using gene therapy to protect the most vulnerable neurons in PD models. Through this gene therapy, Dr. Isacson’s lab was able to protect the most vulnerable neurons in PD models. Dr. Isacson’s lab was able to generate neurons from

dopamine cells that were transplanted. These scientists also have made significant progress in studying a molecule called G-substrate, a phosphatase inhibitor. In human studies, they have found that transplanted fetal neurons can survive in patients for at least 14 years.

All of these studies demonstrated new ways to protect and regenerate the dopamine system that produces the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

IND - The Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders

The MSPRF sponsored research at the IND is conducted under the direction of Yale Professors Dr. Ken Marek and Dr. John Seibyl. This lab is developing novel tools for early detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease by studying physiologic, biochemical and neuroimaging biomarkers for non-dominergic manifestations of Parkinsonism.

The IND has been active in the expansion of Amadeus (American and European Union SPECT Imaging Consortium) to continue the application of rigorous, standardized quantitative neuroimaging technology in multi-center trials to improve diagnosis and evaluate treatments for Parkinson disease and related disorders. They have initiated a multi-site study to develop smell testing and brain imaging as a potential tool for early diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

The IND will continue its research and development of new ligands/biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders for Parkinson disease, and other neurological disorders.


			Dr. Paul Greengard's pioneering work in delineating how neurons communicate with one another in the brain earned him the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology.