FROM: PR Newswire:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06
-28-2004/0002201046&EDATE=

The Michael J. Fox Foundation Funds $2 Million to Solve Midbrain System
Mysteries

    NEW YORK, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson's Research (MJFF) announced today that it has awarded
approximately
$2.1 million to fund 11 research projects studying the molecular and
cellular
signals that produce and maintain the midbrain dopaminergic system that
degenerates in Parkinson's disease. The awards were funded in part
through a
grant from the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation.
    The Foundation launched this initiative in October 2003 in order to
better
understand the development of dopaminergic neurons and their relationship
to
the entire brain circuitry network. Understanding how the dopamine system
develops and functions will shed light on the causes of PD and is an
essential
step toward progress in therapeutic strategies, most notably cell
replacement.
    "We have learned a great deal from recent research on embryonic stem
cells, but we don't know yet how to transplant them successfully so that
they
integrate into the brain long-term as stable, functioning dopaminergic
neurons," said Theo Palmer, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at
Stanford and a member of MJFF's Scientific Advisory Board.  "These
projects
seek to fill current gaps in understanding the molecular cues essential
for
the development, maintenance, survival and viability of dopamine neurons-
whether they are a patient's own neurons or those derived from stem
cells,"
Dr. Palmer noted.
    "Each grant recipient was chosen because their study promises to
dissect a
different signal that instructs or maintains a brain circuit," explained
Deborah W. Brooks, executive director, MJFF.  "If successful, each
project
will supply a different piece of the puzzle, helping us translate these
findings into meaningful patient therapies."
    The following is a complete list of researchers who were awarded
grants
for The Michael J. Fox Foundation Specification, Patterning and
Maintenance of
Midbrain Dopaminergic Systems in the Normal and Parkinsonian Brain
initiative:

     Anders Bjorklund, MD, PhD and
     Thomas Perlmann, PhD
     Lund University
     "Role of Nurr-1 in Survival, Maintenance & Function of Midbrain
Dopamine
     Neurons: Implications for Disease Intervention & Therapy for PD"

     Ted Dawson, MD, PhD
     Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
     "Generation & Characterization of Mice with Inducible & Cell-Type
     Specific Interruption of GDNF Signaling"

     Sheng Ding, PhD
     The Scripps Research Institute
     "Small Molecules That Promote Regeneration of Dopaminergic Neurons
from
     Human Neural Stem Cells"

     Johan Ericson, PhD  and
     Thomas Perlmann, PhD
     Karolinska Institute
     "Identification of Novel Determinants for Dopamine Neuron Generation
in
     Vivo & Embryonic Stem Cells"

     Dong-Youn Hwang, PhD
     McLean Hospital & Harvard Medical School
     "Role of Pitx3 in the Development of Midbrain DA Neurons"

     Ann Marie Janson, MD, PhD
     Karolinska Institute
     "Studies on Endogenous Neurogenesis in the Adult Mammalian
Substantia
     Nigra"

     Gerd Kempermann, MD
     Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch
     "Role of Neural Precursor Cells of Ventricular Wall Origin in
Endogenous
     Plasticity in Animal Models of PD"

     Susan McConnell, PhD and
     Marc Tessier-Lavigne, PhD
     Stanford University
     "Identification of Axon Guidance Molecules Relevant to the Midbrain
     Dopaminergic System"

     David Park, PhD and
     Antonio Colavita, PhD
     University of Ottawa
     "Genetic Screening & Functional Analysis of Factors Regulating
     Dopaminergic Development & Survival in C. Elegans & Mammalian
Systems"

     Horst Simon, PhD
     University of Heidelberg
     "Analysis of the Progressive Postnatal Loss of Nigral Dopaminergic
     Neurons in Engrailed Mutant Mice"

    The program is one element of the Foundation's aggressive research
agenda
aimed at finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. To date, The Michael J.
Fox
Foundation for Parkinson's Research has funded more than $42 million in
research, either directly or through partnerships.  For more information
on
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, visit
http://www.michaeljfox.org.


SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Web Site: http://www.michaeljfox.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn