DBS cross-disciplinary project
Mutations in Parkinson’s disease, motor dysfunction, and rehabilitation
An approach to motor circuits linking genes to behavior in Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease affects more than 8.5 million people worldwide and causes motor disorders related to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The interdisciplinary and collaborative DBS project combines human genetics, cellular neurobiology, and motor circuit physiology to identify new strategies for stimulating resilient motor circuits in Parkinson’s disease and opening up new therapeutic avenues.
OUR CHALLENGE
Identifying which motor circuits are dysfunctional due to the genes underlying Parkinson’s disease.
THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES
- Associating mutations and motor dysfunctions by identifying new variants of Parkinson’s disease and studying them in genetic and cellular models.
- Analyzing early defects in dopaminergic neurons in organoids (small three-dimensional biological structures that mimic the architecture and functioning of the entire organ).
- Identifying markers of resilient motor circuits and exploring non-invasive approaches to stimulate them.
MAJOR ADVANCES
Since its launch, the project has strengthened collaborations and recruited young researchers to Paris Brain Institute. Genetic analyses are under way, and a multiphoton imaging system has been acquired to support these advances. This project is already bringing together more than 35 researchers, contributing to major discoveries about Parkinson’s disease.