Team Cragg

Study Rationale: Nerve cells that produce the brain chemical dopamine die in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). These nerve cells extend long and thin fibers called axons that release dopamine from thousands of different points, sending signals to other nerve cells in a brain area called the striatum. Many different types of cells and molecules in the striatum can directly control how dopamine is released, but researchers have not yet discovered which ones are the most important and how they are affected in Parkinson’s. By better understanding this cooperation between striatum and the release of dopamine from axons, the team could provide new knowledge toward ways to restore normal function.

Hypothesis: Team Cragg thinks that other molecules in the striatum play a very important role in controlling the release of dopamine, particularly for the types of dopamine axons that are most vulnerable in PD. The team believes that this role is disrupted in the disease and could be targeted to rescue symptoms.

Study Design: Team Cragg’s international team will combine cutting-edge research methods in mice and human cells that allow the team to study the biology behind Parkinson’s. The team will measure dopamine and other signaling molecules in different areas of the striatum and work out what they do. This work will reveal the biological differences between vulnerable and resistant areas. Team Cragg will use this knowledge to study the most promising molecules in mice that develop PD and in cells from people with PD, to then suggest new ways that might fix the problems with dopamine in the disease.

Impact on Diagnosis: Team Cragg’s discoveries will provide knowledge that may help to find new ways of treating Parkinson’s using medicines that target the key signaling molecules in striatum that control dopamine release.