Our team will characterize circuit mechanisms underlying gut-to-brain disease spread and progression in prodromal Parkinson’s. We will: (1) determine PD-relevant gut and brain anatomic and physiologic profiles in rodents, primates and human cells; (2) test whether disruption of the enteric nervous system circuitry mitigates gut-brain PD-related phenotypes; and (3) evaluate whether spiny mice, a new rodent regeneration model, shows protection from PD-related gut-brain degeneration. Our team has pioneered advances in optogenetics, non-invasive gene-delivery, CLARITY, human brain organoids, and computer vision that we will use to unravel the anatomic and functional underpinnings of PD-relevant gut-brain circuits with unprecedented precision across model-systems.
Here is an overview of how this team’s article findings have contributed to the PD field as of June 2025. There are two different categorizations of these contributions – one by impact to the PD community and a second by scientific category.
Impact
Category
Members of the team have been recognized for their contributions.
Open Science Champions
Catherine Oikonomou, Gerard Coughlin
Network Spotlights
Members of the CRN work diligently to advance our understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Learn more about recent CRN discoveries and achievements.
