Project 170828
Functional analysis of Parkinson's disease-related genes in zebrafish.
Functional analysis of Parkinson's disease-related genes in zebrafish.
Project Information
| Study Type: | Other Mechanistic_Study |
| Therapeutic Area: | Neurology |
| Research Theme: | Biomedical |
| Disease Area: | Parkinson's disease |
| Data Type: | Canadian |
Institution & Funding
| Principal Investigator(s): | Ekker, Marc |
| Institution: | University of Ottawa |
| CIHR Institute: | Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction |
| Program: | |
| Peer Review Committee: | Molecular & Cellular Neurosciences - B |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
| Term: | 3 yrs 0 mth |
Abstract Summary
We are using the zebrafish to understand the function of genes that are associated with early onset Parkinson's disease in humans. Zebrafish have counterparts of these genes and offer several advantages to understand how the altered function of these genes causes Parkinson's disease. We are inactivating these genes in the zebrafish and are determining how the control of movement and the biology of specific neurons in the brain associated with movement control are affected. Furthermore, zebrafish can be used to screen for molecules that impact on the function of these neurons and, therefore, provide clues that will be used in the development of novel therapies. This research will help understand the causes of this important neurological disease affecting many Canadians.
Research Characteristics
This project includes the following research characteristics:
Study Justification
"inactivating these genes in the zebrafish and are determining how the control of movement and the biology of specific neurons in the brain associated with movement control are affected"
Novelty Statement
"This research will help understand the causes of this important neurological disease affecting many Canadians."
Methodology Innovation
using zebrafish models to study early-onset Parkinson's disease genes and screen for novel therapeutics