WEHI Wednesday Seminar hosted by Professor David Komander
 

Professor Grant Dewson

Laboratory Head – Ubiquitin Signalling division, WEHI

Centre Head – Parkinson’s Disease Research Centre, WEHI

 Targeting neuronal vulnerabilities in Parkinson’s

 

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIWednesday

Including Q&A session
 

Parkinson’s disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition but its incidence is increasing faster than other neurological conditions. Current therapies alleviate symptoms but no drugs slow the progression of the disease. The debilitating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s are caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, but remarkably we do not know how these neurons die or why they are selectively vulnerable. Hence, together with a lack of appreciation of disease complexity and a reliance on inadequate models that do not reflect the human condition, all Parkinson’s disease-modifying therapies have failed clinical trials.

The lab is leveraging phenotyping of Parkinson’s patient cells to understand disease biology and resolve patient-specific vulnerabilities. Whilst likely heterogeneous, defects in mitochondrial homeostasis and integrity are emerging as a potential unifying feature of Parkinson’s. Research to resolve the co-ordinated control of fundamental mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis and mitophagy, and their intersection with inflammation to inform the development of new disease models and identification of drug targets will be discussed.

All welcome!