including rare familial forms of Parkinson disease. Our current research efforts include

Alpha Synuclein

The accumulation of aggregated alpha-synuclein within Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is the defining feature of idiopathic Parkinson disease. 

Imaging Agents

An alpha-synuclein imaging agent would improve the diagnosis of Parkinson disease and monitor the effectiveness of disease-modifying treatments.

Loss of Connections

Studying the relationship between the loss of neuronal connections and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson guides the development of better treatments.

Developing Treatments

Researching treatments that would slow the accumulation of alpha-synuclein fibrils in the brain.

Enzyme Function

Investigating the ways in which mutations responsible for NBIA disorders affect the function of the enzymes encoded by the PANK2 and PLA2G6 genes.

Treatments

Developing treatments that improve the function of enzymes affected by disease-causing mutations and to compensate for the loss of enzyme functions.