Elucidating Alpha-Synuclein seeding and inflammation in genetic and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease

Dr. Max Borsche and his team will investigate blood samples collected at several time points from control subjects and Parkinson's disease patients with and without genetic alterations in the PRKN and PINK1 genes for misfolded alpha-synuclein and immunological changes. The project aims to gain deeper insights into the disease's etiology and pathogenesis and contribute to developing markers for the severity and progression of (genetic) Parkinson's disease.

Preclinical development of a new Slack activator for treatment of histamine-independent and chronic itch

Pruritus (itching) is an unpleasant sensation that evokes the desire to scratch. Similar to acute pain, acute pruritus serves as an important protective mechanism to recognize potentially harmful stimuli. However, chronic pruritus (i.e. persisting for more than 6 weeks) usually has no useful function and can cause great suffering to patients.