Description du projet
Le stress oxydatif et le vieillissement comme cibles pour la prévention de la maladie de Parkinson
La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est la deuxième maladie neurodégénérative la plus courante et touche environ 1 % de la population mondiale de plus de 60 ans. Les déclencheurs pathogènes de la maladie de Parkinson sont pour la plupart inconnus, et les traitements actuels ne soulagent que partiellement les symptômes et ne rétablissent pas une fonction neuronale normale. Le projet PARNANT, financé par l’UE, tirera parti de l’expertise des partenaires en matière de génétique de C. elegans et de modèles de MP à base de cellules pour identifier les voies génétiques qui assurent la protection contre la neurodégénérescence pendant le stress oxydatif et le vieillissement. Des études antérieures ont identifié 51 loci génétiques candidats associés à une neurodégénérescence liée à l’âge dans des modèles de MP et chez des patients atteints de la maladie de Parkinson. Les chercheurs entendent cibler ces gènes pour atténuer le stress oxydatif dans les neurones dopaminergiques et les protéger contre la dégénérescence.
Objectif
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder (after Alzheimer's) associated with oxidative stress and aging, and affects an estimated 1% of people worldwide over 60 years of age. The pathogenetic triggers of neurodegenerations are largely unknown. Current therapeutic interventions only partially alleviate symptoms and do not restore normal neuronal function or prevent progressive neurodegenerations. Identifying novel molecular targets and searching for therapeutic agents that block neurodegeneration and promote neuronal restoration is a key challenge in the field. I and the Host have together identified 51 candidate genetic loci associated with age-related neurodegenerations in PD model and PD patients, respectively. These candidate genes are evolutionarily conserved in both vertebrate and invertebrate animals. I hypothesize that some of these genes, via an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathway, alleviate the oxidative stress in the dopaminergic neurons and protect them against degeneration. This project combines my (C. elegans genetics) and Host (cell-based PD models) expertise to identify new genetic pathways that mediate protection against neurodegenerations during oxidative stress and aging. I expect that achieved goals of the proposal will be important discovery that should lead to novel therapeutic targeting for Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative proteinopathies. My long-term goal is to become an independent scientist and establish lab to find novel therapeutic targets and strategies for the diseases associated with oxidative stress, including PD. Gained research experience together with improving my teaching, mentoring and management skills during this fellowship will help me to achieve my goals and transition myself into independence.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panelCoordinateur
39100 Bolzano
Italie