Funding Boost For Dundee Researchers

Researchers at the University of Dundee, focusing on Parkinson’s, are celebrating a funding boost. They have been awarded more than 90-thousand pounds, which will go towards studying how a gene linked to the condition affects the cells in the brain. Dr Miratul Muqit is the lead researcher on the project...

Dr Muqit said: “In a cell you will see thousands of pathways, but we want to find the crucial ones.

“PINK1 is a gene that causes changes in the cells and we want to know if these changes disturb an essential pathway.

“We hope to create a road map of the pathways vital for the survival of brain cells. This way we can better understand how to diagnose and treat the condition.”

Dr Arthur Roach, Director of Research and Development at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Understanding the role of genes in Parkinson’s could be the key to discovering what causes some people to develop Parkinson’s, something that has remained unknown for so long.

“Funding projects like this in Dundee is crucial if we are to progress in our research and one day find a cure.”