NIH R01 · 2025
Influence of neuromelanin on single dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.
Dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) are exquisitely susceptible to degeneration and are responsible for the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). All currently available treatments for PD such as L-DOPA focus on symptoms, and none of the promising results from preclinical studies have translated to a single disease-modifying therapeutic agent. In humans, catecholaminergic neurons, including dopamine neurons in the SNc, specifically express the dark brown pigment neuromelanin and are among the most sensitive neurons to degeneration in PD. Neuromelanin accumulation is not observed in rats and mice, thus the cellular and systemic effects of neuromelanin…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.