Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Petrucelli

Identifying and Investigating Molecular Modifiers of Co-Pathologies in Parkinson’s Disease

2026-Present

Alpha-synuclein aggregation is the most prevalent pathology observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD dementia (PDD); however, many patients also present with inclusions composed of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), amyloid beta, or tau. Such co-pathologies can have a profound impact on disease outcomes, and uncovering mechanisms that modulate co-pathologies in the brain could help guide therapeutic strategies for PD/PDD. We will use high-resolution molecular techniques to identify and examine modifiers of co-pathology presentation and ascertain the structural architecture underlying co pathologies in iNeurons and PD/PDD patient tissue. These studies will shed light on the pathomechanistic role of co-pathologies in PD/PDD.

Tags
Cryo-EMEndolysosomal dysfunctionGenetic susceptibilityiPSC neuronsProteomicsSpatial Transcriptomics

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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.