A new research team led by Indiana University School of Medicine scientists and experts from several universities will investigate the role of immune cell aging on Parkinson's disease risk and progression, according to a June 18 announcement. The group will focus on studying immune-cell exhaustion in both idiopathic and familial forms of Parkinson's cases.
Malú Gámez Tansey, PhD, professor of neurology at IU School of Medicine, is serving as lead primary investigator for the project, which is supported by a $9 million grant. Tansey and her colleagues have been selected to join the Collaborative Research Network, an international initiative funded by Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
ASAP aims to expand its network to map the biological blueprint of Parkinson's disease and develop standardized global research resources needed for treatment development. This phase focuses on understanding why the disease varies across individuals and advancing discoveries toward more precise diagnostics and therapies. Efforts include generating new resources so researchers worldwide can work from a common baseline, reducing technical barriers that hinder drug development.
The researchers note that age is the greatest risk factor for Parkinson's disease. While immune-cell exhaustion naturally occurs with age, its direct relationship to Parkinson’s remains underexplored. The team also plans to examine whether lifestyle and environmental factors contribute to developing the condition, which affects over 1.1 million people in the United States and cost $82 billion in healthcare-related expenses in 2024 alone.
"The ultimate goal is to leverage knowledge of immune system aging to identify individuals at greater risk for Parkinson's disease and then target the dysregulated processes in those individuals with treatments designed specifically for them, in ways similar to what the cancer field does today," Tansey said.
Tansey’s leadership team includes Rebecca Wallings from IU School of Medicine; Elizabeth Bradshaw from Columbia University; Richard Smeyne from Thomas Jefferson University; Catherine Weindel from Tulane University; Travis S. Johnson as data manager; Andrea R. Merchak; and Nicole R. Fowler—all contributing expertise ranging from immunology to biostatistics.
"Parkinson’s disease is complex enough that no single institution can answer these questions alone... This collaboration between Jefferson, IU, Tulane and Columbia brings together complementary expertise... that genuinely accelerates discovery," Smeyne said.
