Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Jensen

Investigate the impact of Parkinson’s disease lysosomal risk variants on lysosomal function and alpha-synuclein clearance across CNS cell types

2026-Present

Genome-wide association studies have identified 134 different loci as risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD), including multiple genes encoding for lysosomal proteins. However, the mechanisms by which lysosomal dysfunction contributes to PD pathogenesis remain unclear. Focusing on a targeted set of lysosomal PD risk factors (TMEM175, GBA1, GPNMB, LRRK2 and SNCA), we will determine how these variants affect lysosomal health and alpha-synuclein clearance in a cell-autonomous and noncell autonomous fashion using iPSC-derived neurons and microglia and immortalized cells lines. We will uncover the mechanistic basis by which these variants influence lysosomal homeostasis and contribute to alpha-synuclein accumulation or spreading.

Tags
Alpha-synucleinGBA (Glucocerebrosidase)GPNMBiPSC neuronsLRRK2LysosomesMicroglia

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In the News

Decoding the Blueprint: Advancing Personalized Parkinson’s Treatments

Decoding the Blueprint: Advancing Personalized Parkinson’s Treatments

05/21/2026 — In our community, we often hear: “If you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s, you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s.” This isn’t just an adage — it’s a biological reality. This radical variability is exactly what makes the disease so difficult to outsmart. We’ve learned that a puzzle this fragmented cannot be solved with a single, broad stroke. Our goal isn’t to find one answer for everyone, but the right answer for the right person at the right time.

Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s and The Michael J. Fox Foundation Expand Global Research Initiative with $261M Investment Toward Personalized Treatments

Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s and The Michael J. Fox Foundation Expand Global Research Initiative with $261M Investment Toward Personalized Treatments

04/28/2026 — Today, Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP), in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), announced $261 million in new grant funding for the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) to map the biological blueprint of Parkinson’s disease and build a standardized toolkit of global research resources that are needed to turn discoveries into treatments.

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Members of the CRN work diligently to advance our understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Learn more about recent CRN discoveries and achievements.