British researchers have embarked on a major project to find a new treatment to prevent the brain damage linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Sheffield University researchers believe they can develop drugs to boost mitochondrial function in dopamine-producing neurons, helping to prevent the destruction of these cells.
The project at the university’s Institute of Translational Neuroscience is being supported with £100,000 of funding from Parkinson’s UK.
It will examine two potential compounds that might achieve the objective.
Researcher Dr Heather Mortiboys said: “We have already been working for five years at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience to get to this stage, so investment from the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech programme to further optimise the compounds towards a readily available treatment is great news.
"We know the mitochondria are defective in Parkinson’s; our work has found compounds, which can restore mitochondrial function in dopaminergic brain cells derived from people with Parkinson’s. If we can optimise the compounds for drug like properties we have a chance of delivering a drug which could slow the progression of Parkinson’s."
Richard Morphy, from Parkinson’s UK, said: “This is an exciting new approach that could rescue defective mitochondria inside neurons to prevent dysfunction and degeneration of dopamine-producing brain cells. With 148,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK, there is a desperate need for new and better treatments for Parkinson’s.
"We hope the project will identify a superior group of molecules that could one day deliver a life-changing drug for people living with the condition.”
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