G20 Parkinson's disease

One study on Parkinson’s disease is accessible to registered UDBN website users.

Parkinson's disease case-control study 2000

UDBN partners:
Dr Carl Clarke (University of Birmingham)
Prof Karen davidson (University of Birmingham)

Background: Developments in medical genetics over the next decade will revolutionise our ability to examine the genetic causation or predisposition to illness and the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.

Objectives:
1. to develop a Parkinson’s Disease DNA Bank using samples from patients and carers who have consented to take part in a large randomised controlled trial of various treatments for the condition (PD MED Trial).
2. To distribute these samples to approved laboratories for specific projects.

Methods: Around 9,000 blood samples from patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s
disease and their carers will be collected during the 4 year recruitment period of the PD MED study after written informed consent is obtained.  For, the samples, DNA will be extracted and stored and lymphocytes will be cryopreserved in the Molecular Neurology Laboratory of the University of Birmingham.  A management Committee will assess external laboratory’s requests for the
samples for specific projects.  A condition of approval will be assessment of the project by an independent medical ethics committee.

Potential applications:
1. The Bank will provide the largest collection of DNA from patients and controls world-wide.  It can be used to look for genes already implicated in disease causation and novel ones as they are reported.  Candidate genes targeted from other studies (e.g. metabolic work) will also be examined.  Elucidation of gene defects and corresponding protein abnormalities will lead to better understanding of pathogenesis and may produce novel neuroprotective therapies.

2. Genetic predictors of the rate of disease progression and the development of levodopa-induced motor complications (e.g. dyskinesia) can be examined in this well characterised patient population.  This may allow better targeting of medication from the commencement of treatment.