Research

Dr. Antonio Strafella at Toronto Western Hospital is using advanced PET imaging to explore the possibility that Parkinson’s disease may actually represent multiple, distinct neurological conditions. By injecting a tracer into the bloodstream, he can measure the density of synapses in the brain, which decline as dopamine-producing cells are lost. This breakthrough allows researchers to observe disease progression in living patients, rather than at autopsy.

Dr. Christina Gros has developed a chemical probe to measure glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity, an enzyme linked to Parkinson’s disease. Mutations in the GCase gene are a major genetic risk factor for PD, and its activity decreases in patients. Gros’s method, using a simple blood sample, could enable earlier detection of PD before symptoms appear and help track disease progression and treatment responses.

Dr. Anish Kanungo, at the University of Manitoba, is advocating for public funding of specialized Parkinson’s clinics. As a clinical movement disorders fellow, he emphasizes that symptom management and quality of life are key for people with Parkinson’s disease. Treating PD now requires neurologists with advanced training beyond standard neurology.

Stefano Cataldi, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, is researching how a protein called VPS35 may regulate the movement of proteins within brain cells. This internal “traffic” system is crucial for cell health, but in Parkinson’s disease, protein buildup—like alpha-synuclein clumps—may cause dopamine-producing cells to die.

For many with Parkinson’s disease, dopamine agonists are effective in managing motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness. However, for up to 20% of patients, these drugs can trigger harmful impulsive behaviors, such as compulsive gambling, leading to financial and emotional crises. Neuroscientist Catharine Winstanley is studying the role of the protein GSK3beta, linked to impulse control issues in patients taking these drugs.

Researchers studying Parkinson’s disease are exploring a new frontier: the role of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, in the body. Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell, a neurologist at the University of British Columbia, focuses on early changes in the gut and olfactory system, which occur years before classic motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness appear.

Clinical ethicist Kim Jameson is investigating the need for advance care planning discussions for people with Parkinson’s disease. Many patients expressed that their doctors had not initiated conversations about long-term or end-of-life care. Jameson aims to identify the barriers preventing doctors from starting these discussions and develop patient-centered guidelines for these conversations.

Neuroscientist Matthew Sacheli is researching how exercise helps alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Inspired by observing a patient whose symptoms improved with exercise, he is studying the brain’s response to physical activity. Using PET and fMRI imaging, he aims to identify how exercise influences dopamine release and which brain regions are involved.

Naila Kuhlmann, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, is studying the plasticity of neurons in the striatum, a brain region affected in Parkinson’s disease. She focuses on the effects of LRRK2 gene mutations, a common genetic cause of the disease, on neuron structure. Specifically, she examines dendrites and spines, which are key to neural communication. Kuhlmann aims to understand how these structural changes impact dopamine transmission and how early interventions targeting these changes could prevent or slow Parkinson’s progression.