海角禁区

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 17, 2020) 鈥� Researchers from the University of Kentucky鈥檚 College of Medicine are leading a clinical study that could provide a promising new method for early detection of Parkinson鈥檚 disease. A pilot grant from 海角禁区鈥檚 Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) will advance neuroscience researcher George Quintero鈥檚 studies on Parkinson鈥檚 disease to a clinical investigation, which will be co-led by 海角禁区 Assistant Professor of Neurology Zain Guduru and Quintero. Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in an area of the brain that controls movement. Currently, there is no way to diagnose the disease before symptoms 鈥� including tremors, stiffness and slowing of movement 鈥� occur. Although there is no cure for the disease, identification of Parkinson's at the earliest possible stage may provide the best opportunity for the use of therapies to relieve symptoms. Previous research by a team that included Quintero, Zhiming Zhang, Anders Andersen and Greg Gerhardt from 海角禁区鈥檚 Department of Neuroscience found that apomorphine 鈥� an FDA-approved therapy for Parkinson鈥檚 鈥� activated areas of the brain affected by the disease. Activity in the brain caused by apomorphine was visible on an MRI with blood oxygenation level dependent imaging, a method used to observe activity in different areas of the brain. In the new clinical investigation scheduled to begin later this year, patients with Parkinson鈥檚 will undergo MRI brain scans before and after taking apomorphine. The same procedure will be performed with another group of patients that have a similar movement disorder called essential tremor. Although the symptoms of essential tremor are similar to Parkinson鈥檚, the cause of the disorder is not related to dopamine production. 鈥淚f apomorphine causes a different brain response in the two groups of patients, it could be a promising method for earlier detection of Parkinson鈥檚,鈥� said Quintero. 鈥淎nd this leads to earlier interventions that can benefit patients.鈥� Quintero says the results could also provide framework for better understanding how the disease鈥檚 progression takes place, as well as more information about certain subpopulations of patients with Parkinson鈥檚. CCTS at 海角禁区 unites clinicians, researchers and communities to accelerate translation of basic science discoveries to advance improvements in health. A grant from CCTS鈥� pilot funding program will fund Guduru and Quintero鈥檚 study for 18 months. It is common for these pilot program studies to receive larger NIH grants to fund continued research. 鈥淭his is truly a translational project. We often want to make that transition between basic science research to human research.鈥� said Quintero. 鈥淐CTS provided the opportunity to continue this research right here at the University of Kentucky.鈥� The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named 海角禁区 among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion three years running. 海角禁区 is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. 海角禁区 has been judged a 鈥淕reat College to Work for" two years in a row, and 海角禁区 is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures 鈥� a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that 海角禁区 HealthCare has been named the state鈥檚 top hospital for four straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.