Principal Investigators


Hayley, Shawn P

Institution


Carleton University (Ottawa)

Contact information of lead PI


Country


Canada

Title of project or programme


A multi-hit model of Parkinson's disease: LRRKing inflammatory mechanisms.

Source of funding information


CIHR

Total sum awarded (Euro)


€ 356,850

Start date of award


01/07/2015

Total duration of award in years


5

Keywords


Research Abstract


The vast majority of cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are of unknown origin and environmental influences have been repeatedly implicated. That said, certain genetic changes, such as those involving a gene that appears to influence the inflammatory immune system, (called LRRK2), might engender a vulnerability to the impact of environmental toxicants. We presently hypothesize that activation of LRRK2, along with immune system messenger proteins, called cytokines, together give rise to PD. We will test this hypothesis using genetically modified mice (that either lack LRRK2 or express abnormal levels of this gene) and administering certain cytokines, immune agents (e.g. compounds that mimic viral and bacterial infections) and environmental toxicants (e.g. pesticides linked to PD).

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