 |
 |
FROM: Newsday http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hspark1022,0,4124035.story?coll=ny- top-headlines Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Hartman pledges $4.4M for Parkinson's research BY JAMIE TALAN STAFF WRITER October 21, 2004, 5:22 PM EDT Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, with a pledge from Msgr. Thomas Hartman's Foundation of $4.4 million over five years, is launching a research initiative focused on developing treatments for Parkinson's disease. Hartman was diagnosed with the disease five years ago. Scientists are far from understanding the disorder, though treatments exist that help lessen symptoms. The federal government estimates about 500,000 people in the U.S. have Parkinson's, with 50,000 new cases each year. The National Institutes of Health spends $235 million a year on Parkinson's research. The condition, characterized by movement impairment, results from the degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement. That, in turn creates a shortage of dopamine, a chemical that controls movement and behavior. Tremor, often on one side of the body, is typically the first sign, followed by symptoms that can include slowed movement, rigid arms and legs and a shuffling gate. Over time, symptoms tend to worsen and can expand to include personality changes, speech impairment and dementia. "When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's," Hartman said Thursday, "my doctor said that there were different forms of the illness -- 'Take your time and see how Parkinson's will influence your life.'" He said he experienced depression until, during a private moment on a beach, he had a religious experience and characterized a message from God as "Don't worry. I will be with you. You will be okay." In January, he started the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research. He decided to focus the foundation's funding efforts on Cold Spring Harbor Lab after lab scientists Tim Tully and Hollis Cline described their research at a summer dinner party. When he met Dr. James Watson, a nobel laureate who is chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Lab, he posed this query: "If I give you a ton of money, will you devote yourself to Parkinson's?" "The dream of this partnership is nothing less than a cure for Parkinson's," Watson said Thursday. " ... It is certain that increased research is the only way to hasten the discovery of a cure and find therapies that can halt the disease progression." None of the funding will be used for research involving stem cells derived from embryos, Hartman said. The Catholic Church is opposed to use of such cells, because an embryo is destroyed in the process. Stem cells taken from adult bone marrow or umbilical cords may hold potential, he said, and part of the research is exploring their value. The scientists may ultimately pursue clues to other nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, he said. "We chose Cold Spring Harbor because of its reputation," Hartman said. "We want it to be a first class Parkinson's research lab." At the lab, the funding will expand research being conducted by a team of scientists. Zachary Mainen said he plans to record the activity of single neurons in the affected brain region, known as the basal ganglia, to understand the basic mechanisms of the disease process. He described the basal ganglia as tissue deep in the brain that controls movements. Neurons in this area oscillate at an increased frequency in much the same rhythm as a Parkinson's tremor, he said. "People don't know what the origins of these tremors are," Mainen said. "The more we can figure out, the better able we will be to develop new strategies to treat Parkinson's." Another researcher, Jonathan Sebat, will be looking for genes that lead to Parkinson's. Nick Tonks will be studying cell-signaling pathways involved in the destruction of the dopamine-rich brain cells. And Grigori Enikolopov will be working on techniques to expand a non-embryonic source of stem cells that could lead to ways to increase the brain's store of dopamine. The Hartman Foundation has collaborated with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to raise funds. Hartman is often a guest of radio personality Don Imus, and has used Imus' pulpit to spread word of his foundation and the push to cure Parkinson's. Hartman is director of Telecare, the television production facility of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and he and Rabbi Marc Gellman are known as The God Squad. Their column appears in newspapers including Newsday, and they have written three books and host a cable TV program. Cathy Soref, founder of DNA Stuff, a line of accessories and jewelry designed with a double helix motif, has hired artists to design a Parkinson's pin, much like the ribbons that have come to symbolize other diseases. On Oct. 30, Watson is honoring Hartman and the new collaboration at a benefit concert at Cold Spring Harbor Lab's Grace Auditorium featuring John Sebastian. For more information call 516-367-8471. Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn