AVC researcher awarded prestigious grant for research into Parkinsonās disease
Dr. Jay Penney, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Genetics at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), 17³Ō¹Ļ (17³Ō¹Ļ), has been awarded a three-year research grant by to study a newly discovered genetic mutation linked to Parkinsonās disease.
āThis is meaningful to me both personally and professionally,ā said Dr. Penney. āThis research could help us better understand how Parkinsonās develops at a cellular level, and then potentially treat it.ā
The $135,000 grant supports research into a mutation of the RAB32 gene, a recently identified cause of Parkinsonās disease. This specific mutation was discovered less than a year ago and has been shown to almost always lead to Parkinsonās when present, and Dr. Penney wants to know why.
Dr. Penney plans to use advanced human stem cell models to create neurons and microglia (specialized brain cells) to study how the RAB32 mutation disrupts their function. āThe idea is to see how the mutation affects these cells, and by understanding that, we can begin to piece together how it contributes to disease.ā
Before joining AVC a year and a half ago, Dr. Penney focused on Alzheimerās disease during his postdoctoral training. While the two diseases share several cellular mechanisms, Parkinsonās is significantly less studied, something that attracted him to the field.
āThis is an understudied area, and I saw an opportunity to explore something new,ā he said. āAlzheimerās has dominated the field of neurodegeneration research, but Parkinsonās deserves the same attention. This project is a way to contribute to that.ā
A key aspect of Dr. Penneyās research is the use of human stem cells that he transforms into brain cells and makes mutations that cause disease in humans. Traditionally, mouse models would be used for such experiments; however, researchers have found that findings from mouse studies often do not translate well to human treatments.
āWith stem cell models, we can study human cells directly,ā said Dr. Penney. āThatās crucial for making discoveries that will actually apply to patients.ā
While the project is in its early stages, Dr. Penney hopes the research will eventually identify potential targets for new Parkinsonās therapies.
āThis is the first step in understanding how things are happening on a cell level,ā he said. āIf we can do that, then maybe down the road we can figure out how to find a cure.ā
As one of the first researchers in Canada to study this specific mutation, Dr. Penney is excited to be at this cross section of stem cell biology, genetics, and neurodegeneration. His work represents not only a significant academic achievement but also a hopeful step toward unraveling the mysteries of Parkinsonās disease.
