HATTORI Nobutaka, MD, PhD | Juntendo University School of Medicine; SAIKI Shinji, MD, PhD; SAKO Wataru, MD, PhD
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Awardee Year: 2023
With the aging of society, the number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson’s disease (PD), for which aging is a risk factor, continues to increase. Phenotypes of PD vary widely, especially in prognosis. Accurate prognosis prediction is vital for patients and their families for prospects. We would like to work on research aimed at (1) identification of factors that influence prognosis, (2) creation of models that enable prognosis prediction based on these factors, and (3) intervention aimed at improving prognosis through multilevel bioinformatics that adds a time component to spatial omics analysis of genes, diffusion-weighted/structural/functional MRI, metabolome, and miRNA transcriptome, as well as clinical information such as non-motor symptoms including cognitive functions. Especially for studies aiming to improve prognosis, we will search for possible intervention points in elucidating the mechanisms at the pathway level and also examine the validity using cultured cells, iPS cells derived from cases with PD, and animal models. Ultimately, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial is planned to intervene on the identified factors, aiming to approve the drug as a disease-modifying drug. This study would bring us closer to achieving healthy longevity for elderly patients with PD, whose number is growing with the arrival of an aging society, and to enhance their well-being by extending the length of time, they can walk on their own two feet.