Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Lashuel

Investigating the role of Neuron-Glia crosstalk in regulating alpha-synuclein pathology formation and clearance in a novel triculture model of Lewy Body maturation and neurodegeneration

2026-Present

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation, Lewy body (LB) formation, and neurodegeneration, with lysosomal dysfunction playing a key role in pathogenesis. Using a novel triculture model of dopaminergic neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, we will investigate how neuron-glia interactions influence α-syn clearance and pathology. Following this integrative approach, we will assess the effects of PD-associated lysosomal gene mutations, including LRRK2, TMEM175, and ATP13A2, on lysosomal activity, α-syn degradation, aggregate formation, and neurodegeneration. Finally, we will examine the relationship between lysosomal dysfunction, α-syn clearance, and neuroinflammation and explore therapeutic strategies to enhance α-syn clearance, aiming to identify neuroprotective targets.

Tags
Alpha-synucleinDisease modelsGliaLysosomal dysfunctionLysosomal homeostasisNeuroinflammationPathology

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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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