Parkinson’s UK awards £1m to new research projects

In our latest round of funding, we’ve awarded a total of £1.06m to 4 projects looking to tackle a range of high priority research areas for Parkinson’s. This includes understanding the genetics of early onset Parkinson’s, the causes of Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s dementia, and how we can advance towards new therapies.

How do we choose what to fund?

We fund research projects that are based on the priorities of people with Parkinson’s. We work with a team of scientific experts, alongside people with lived experience of Parkinson’s, to make sure we’re funding research that will have the most impact, today and in the future.

Alan Cameron, a person with Parkinson's and one of our lay review coordinators for this round of funding, said:

"This grant round was my first in the role of lay review coordinator and I was impressed by the standard of the applications. It was easy to see that the opinions of people affected by Parkinson's were valued and that they made a difference to the final decision. I look forward to being involved in the next one."

Our newly funded projects

Read a summary of our newly funded research projects below.

Controlling dopamine production in brain cells

Lead researcher: Dr Harry Bulstrode, University of Cambridge
Cost: £199,195
Summary: Parkinson’s affects brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine and so overtime, levels of dopamine in the brain fall and symptoms of Parkinson’s develop. Researchers across the world are trying to replace these cells with new cells that produce dopamine, using stem cells. In this study, researchers want to understand the best conditions for replacing these cells, to make sure they produce the maximum amount of dopamine when injected into the brain.

Exploring genetic changes in early onset Parkinson’s

Lead researcher: Professor Henry Houlden, University College London
Cost: £283,849
Summary: A small percentage of people have changes in their genes that are linked to the development of Parkinson’s. Researchers have identified a new gene, called PSMF1, that may be associated with early onset Parkinson’s. Previous research has shown that changes to the PSMF1 gene can cause movement symptoms in fruit flies and mice. This project now aims to understand whether there are changes to the PSMF1 gene in people with early onset Parkinson’s, and how these changes may lead to the development of the condition.

Using information from blood samples to understand the causes of Parkinson's

Lead researcher: Dr Petroula Proitsi, Queen Mary, University of London
Funding awarded: £247,903
Summary: Previous research has shown that analysing different parts of a blood sample, such as blood proteins, genes and fats, can help researchers understand what changes might be happening in the brain of people with Parkinson’s. In this study, researchers will analyse a large dataset of information about blood samples from thousands of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. They will then use their findings to identify people more likely to develop Parkinson’s, make sure the right people are included in specific research projects, and highlight molecules that could be linked to the condition.

Understanding the different causes of Parkinson’s dementia

Lead researcher: Professor Rimona Weil, University College London
Cost: £333,778
Summary: Nearly half of people with Parkinson’s are affected by dementia within 10 years of being diagnosed. However, the causes of Parkinson’s dementia are not well understood. This project aims to investigate 2 potential causes: the effects of blood pressure on blood vessels in the brain, and the build up of abnormal proteins in the brain. This research will help to understand the causes of Parkinson’s dementia, and identify new ways of treating these symptoms.

Professor David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, says:

“I am delighted to share that Parkinson’s UK is funding these vital research projects. I am particularly excited about Professor Weil’s study because it has the potential to change clinical practice and stop so many people with Parkinson’s developing dementia.

"The study will test whether a routine brain MRI, performed around the time of a Parkinson’s diagnosis, can identify people where the small blood vessels in the brain are not functioning properly. In such individuals this increases the chances that they will develop dementia. If we can identify at-risk individuals with Parkinson's, treatments can be administered to improve the health of small blood vessels in the brain, decreasing the risk of dementia.”