University doctors and researchers may soon understand more about the causes of Parkinson's Disease, thanks to a $5.7 million federal grant awarded to the University Health System yesterday.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a division of the National Institute of Health, awarded a total of $49 million in federal funding to eight schools for Parkinson's research.
The Health System will use its five-year grant to further investigate abnormalities in cell mitochondria, an area in which it already has conducted extensive research.
"Working out the specifics of the mitochondrial genetic abnormalities and the mechanisms of how cells die [or survive] that contain the abnormal mitochondrial genes is the scientific thrust of our research program," said Dr. James P. Bennett, director of the University's Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Parkinson's Disease is a neurological disorder that impairs a patient's bodily control.
The disease now affects more than 500,000 Americans.
This method of Parkinson's research probably set apart the University's program from competitors, said Patricia Trimmer, assistant professor of neurology and member of the Parkinson's research team.
"This is a very different approach to how the disease is caused," Trimmer said. "We're looking at an alternate cause for Parkinson's Disease that's not being explored by other groups in the country."
In addition to exploring Parkinson's Disease from a different perspective, the Parkinson's research team is structured in a way different from usual.
"We have a unique approach and a unique collaboration - between basic scientists and clinicians," Trimmer said.
The researchers working under the grant will collect mitochondria and DNA samples from people with Parkinson's Disease as well as from people without the disease.
The grant will help boost the University's research reputation as well.
It also will rank the University Health System among other top medical research facilities, Trimmer said.
"This will put us in sort of the big leagues in Parkinson's Disease research," she said.
The funding will support the ongoing research of Bennett, Trimmer and doctors Jeremy Tuttle and Davis Parker, all working under the leadership of Neurology Department Chairman Fred Wooten.
The group already has researched Alzheimer's Disease as well as Parkinson's, but the new grant will allow it to focus more extensively on Parkinson's.
Each of the researchers has a specific area of expertise they contribute to the research.
"By combining our skills we're a more powerful group," Trimmer said.
Bennett said he hopes the research group will learn the cause of Parkinson's.
The Health System applied for the grant in June by submitting a report that was almost 200 pages long, detailing scientific research already conducted on Parkinson's.
"There were no rigid requirements, but [a research team] had to have an extensive scientific record of research in areas related to Parkinson's Disease," Bennett said.
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