Research

Under the supervision of Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, Dr. Joyce Lam and colleagues at the University of British Columbia (UBC) sought to test whether a probiotic supplement could ease anxiety in people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Anxiety is one of the most common, yet often overlooked, non-motor symptoms of PD. About 25–30% of people living with PD experience anxiety serious enough to interfere with daily life, and it can be just as disruptive to quality of life as tremor or stiffness.

Dr. Priti Gros from the University of Toronto, alongside her co-supervisors Dr. Connie Marras and Dr. Susan Bronskill, studies how real-world data can be used to improve clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Real-world data (i.e. information routinely collected during everyday healthcare encounters) can help researchers design future trials and understand how treatments perform outside of controlled research settings.  

The underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is thought to be the accumulation of abnormal clumps (“aggregates”) of a protein called alpha-synuclein in brain cells. Dr. Nicholas Silver at the University of Toronto is trying to understand the interaction between amyloid-beta aggregates and alpha-synuclein aggregates. In particular, he is focusing on determining what influence alpha-synuclein aggregates may have on amyloid-beta aggregation.

As a part of Prof. David Vocadlo’s research team, Dr. Nicholas See is highly interested in a Parkinson’s disease-linked protein called β-glucocerebrosidase or “GCase”. This protein belongs to a family of enzymes whose role in the human body is to catalyze, or “speed up,” important biological processes. GCase helps the brain break down certain fatty substances, called glycolipids. This is important for keeping brain cells healthy.

Dr. Lisa Julian at Simon Fraser University leads cutting-edge research into how genetic mutations linked to rare cancers and neurodegenerative disorders affect brain development. Her lab grows miniature human brain tissues from patient-derived stem cells, allowing them to study the brain’s earliest stages. Dr. Julian’s research is opening new doors toward understanding and ultimately treating brain diseases.

Dr. Ali Salahpour from the University of Toronto is exploring whether combining L-DOPA, the primary treatment for Parkinson’s disease, with cannabinoid compounds can enhance its effectiveness and reduce side effects like L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). His research systematically tests multiple cannabinoids in animal models, aiming to improve Parkinson’s treatment and also discover new therapies for rare dopamine-related diseases.

Dr. Nika Shakiba from UBC is researching human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to improve their safe and efficient use in cell therapies for conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Her lab uses genetic engineering and computational tools to detect and eliminate cancer-like mutations in lab-grown cells, optimizing biomanufacturing and differentiation processes to make hPSC-based treatments more reliable and scalable.

Dr. Nicholas See is focusing on the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), which, when underactive, has been linked to earlier onset and faster motor decline in PD patients. Even beyond genetic mutations, reduced GCase activity is a consistent factor in PD. Unlocking these modulators may reveal novel pathways for PD treatment and bring hope for future therapies.

Dr. Brendan Santyr’s research aims to improve Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy for Parkinson’s disease by using functional MRI to quickly determine optimal stimulation settings after surgery. If successful, it could enhance DBS accessibility and promote more individualized care for PD patients globally.