The Michael J. Fox Foundation grant will be used to study the "Modulation of the CD40/CD40-Ligand neuroinflammatory pathway in Parkinson's preclinical models."
This project could open a new avenue for therapeutic interventions in Parkinson's disease, where current approaches are limited mainly to dopaminergic replacement therapies. Dr. Djalil Coowar, AxoGlia's CSO and Principal Investigator, and his colleague at LSCB, Dr. Manuel Buttini, expect that by blocking neuroinflammation through the disruption of the CD40-CD40L pathway, a neuroprotective, disease-modifying effect will be achieved.
"Modulating neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease could prove to be of therapeutic benefit and we are grateful to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for their support to our innovative strategies that identify neurorestorative and neuroprotective drug candidates," said AxoGlia's CEO Jean-Paul Scheuren.
About AxoGlia Therapeutics:
Based in Luxembourg, AxoGlia is a pioneer in the development of small chemical entities having dual anti-neurodegenerative and anti-inflammatory capacities. These molecules act on two levels: the regeneration of nervous cells by influencing the cell fate / maturation of cellular precursors and modulating the activation of microglial cells. Our preclinical programs target compounds that enhance neurogenesis in the brain for endogenous neuronal replacement. The biological effects of these molecules hint towards pharmacological benefits in neuropathologies like Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
About the LCSB:
The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) is an Interdisciplinary Research Centre established by the University of Luxembourg in 2009. The study of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson´s disease, is one of the major targets of the research activities at the LCSB. The objective is to apply systems-level approaches, by combining both experimental data and computational analysis, in order to gain insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the disease that can help find new ways to diagnose and treat the disease.
Web: www.uni.lu/lcsb
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation:
As the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $304 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. Now through December 31, 2012, all new and increased giving to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, as well as gifts from donors who have not given since 2010 or earlier, will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the $50-million Brin Wojcicki Challenge, launched by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki.