A Parkinson’s patient who has lived with the disease for more than a decade has visited the MRC PPU to present £70,000 to researchers and find out more about how it will be spent.  …more

The ability of cells to move is crucial for many biological processes during development, and for normal tissue growth and repair. Cancer cells can usurp normal cellular processes and make them hyperactive, which leads to inappropriate cell movement that can contribute to metastasis. Understanding the molecular processes that regulate cell migration could uncover novel therapeutic targets against diseases such as cancer. …more

Mitophagy is the autophagic removal of damaged or impaired mitochondria. A new study published in Cell Metabolism from Ian Ganley and colleagues, shows for the first time that dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra undergo a striking amount of mitophagy. This is important because it is this population of neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and impaired mitophagy has been implicated in this pathology. …more

Many congratulations to Pat Eyers, a PhD student in Philip Cohen’s laboratory in the MRC PPU from 1996-2000, who has just been promoted to Professor at the University of Liverpool’s, Department of Biochemistry.

 …more

Much research has focused on understanding how mutations in a protein kinase termed LRRK2, predisposes to Parkinson’s disease. Most pathogenic mutations occur within the kinase domain (G2019S) and GTPase ROC/COR domain (R1441G and Y1699C) of LRRK2.

 …more

Yu-Chiang Lai, a postdoc in Miratul Muqit’s lab at the MRC PPU, has been awarded a Birmingham Fellowship to establish his lab, aiming to understand the molecular mechanism of skeletal muscle atrophy and how exercise can improve health. …more

Derailment of the PI3K signalling network contributes to many human diseases including cancer.

 …more

The University of Dundee held a special celebration for its staff members who had been in post for 25 years!

 …more

Mutations that activate the LRRK2 protein kinase, predispose to Parkinson’s disease, suggesting that LRRK2 inhibitors might have therapeutic benefit.

 …more

There is compelling evidence that mutations which stimulate the activity of the LRRK2 protein kinase, cause Parkinson’s disease. Orally bioavailable, brain penetrant and potent LRRK2 kinase inhibitors are in the later stages of clinical development. There is also increasing indication that LRRK2 is over-activated in some patients with sporadic Parkinson’s disease.

 …more