Project description
Stem cells and gene editing for new treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves loss of dopaminergic (DA) midbrain neurons causing motor dysfunction. As one of the most challenging neurodegenerative diseases to study, the EU-funded SPARK project will use stem cell-based technologies to model PD and develop patient-specific therapies. Harnessing induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from PD patient-derived somatic cells as well as those from healthy individuals they aim to model key aspects of DA neurodegeneration. Other technologies used for study are brain organoids, stem cell transplantation and single cell sequencing to determine the reason for DA neuron degeneration. For cell replacement treatments, ‘healthy’ DA neurons will be created with gene editing from a healthy patient.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapy
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinson
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit Grant
Coordinator
00185 Roma
Italy
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Partners (1)
22100 Lund
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