An emerging centre of neurodegenerative excellence

The burden of deaths and disability caused by neurological disorders is widely recognised as a global public health crisis for an ageing population. There is no cure for most of these devastating diseases, and very few treatments proven to slow their progress or alleviate symptoms.

Dundee is an emerging centre of excellence in research into neurodegenerative diseases. Experts from the Schools of Life Sciences and Medicine are at the forefront of efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying the likes of Alzheimer’s, Motor Neurone Disease and Parkinson’s, as well as seeking to develop new therapies for them.

In recognition of this growing reputation, Dundee last year became one of the first institutions to see two scientists awarded Dementia Research Leaders Fellowships. This new scheme, instituted by the Alzheimer’s Society, is intended to support leading early career researchers and work identified as being among the most exciting in the field.

Dr Christopher Henstridge (Medicine) and Dr Leeanne McGurk (Life Sciences) each received £600,000 as part of the five-year fellowships that will see postdoctoral and PhD positions created at Dundee. Dr Henstridge will try to understand why connection points between brain cells break down early in neurogenerative conditions and the overlaps between these diseases. In addition, Dr Henstridge has received a £100,000 Springboard Award from the Academy of Medical Sciences to study a protein (TDP-43) with links to several diseases of the brain.

Dr McGurk and her colleagues focus on understanding the role that a cellular modification called PARylation plays in either promoting or preventing ageing of the brain

Other Dundee researchers involved in the battle against dementia include Dr Fiona McLean (Medicine), who investigates how changes to the barrier between the blood supply and the brain contributes to Alzheimer’s. Dr McLean likens the main cell type present in this barrier to a bouncer deciding what gets into the brain and what gets ejected. In dementia-related diseases it stops working properly meaning that toxic substances enter the brain while waste products, such as amyloid, are not removed.

Dr McGurk’s Life Sciences colleague, Dr Amy Lloyd, carries out pioneering research into dementia using world-leading technology and a fresh approach. She studies brain behaviour in patients with Alzheimer’s disease in a bid to understand how disease pathways are created, and how to stop them.

Her approach led to her receiving a £500,000 Race Against Dementia – Alzheimer’s Research UK fellowship to further her research into the role that immune cells of the central nervous system play in the disease. The funding is provided by Sir Jackie Stewart, who seeks to integrate Formula One technology into scientific research. 

The University is a leading centre of research into Parkinson’s, the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition in the world. Currently 145,000 people in the UK are living with the condition, and it is estimated this will increase by nearly a fifth to 172,000 by 2030.

Life Sciences and Medicine host world-renowned experts who are dedicated to improving our understanding of the condition. Their efforts are backed by the Dundee Parkinson’s Research Campaign, which was launched in 2019 to establish Dundee as the global centre for Parkinson’s research.

Much of this activity is centred around LRRK2, a protein known to play a major role in the development of Parkinson’s and is one of the most important and promising targets for developing treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Previously, scientists have only been able to inhibit its function rather than destroying it completely but a collaboration between scientists at Dundee’s Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) and MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) have designed a small molecule that degrades LRRK2. This builds on decades of work, much of it funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, by Professors Dario Alessi, Miratul Muqit, and Esther Sammler. 

Dundee earlier this year became the first institution in Scotland to perform a life-changing procedure that can prevent uncontrolled tremors in Parkinson’s patients. A team from the School of Medicine, led by Dr Tom Gilbertson successfully completed the country’s first ultrasound thalamotomy, a non-invasive operation that can allow people living with the disease to control their movements.

Although Dundee researchers have long been involved in the battle against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the University has relatively recently ramped up its efforts to uncover the mysteries of Motor Neurone Disease. Dr Henstridge was the first researcher to receive joint MND Scotland-Alzheimer’s UK funding, demonstrating the impact of his research across multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Zsofia Laszlo, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr Henstridge’s lab, has also received £250,000 for her research into how different cell types in the brain and spinal cord interact with each other in MND. 

In addition, an MND awareness project developed at Dundee has been made available within the Higher Biology curriculum while Dundee was also one of the first centres of a new innovative clinical trial (MND-SMART) and piloted a new engagement project, MND-LEARN, which is currently being rolled out across Scotland.

MRC-PPU is also significantly investing in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, with the aim of recapturing its success in Parkinsons. This includes recruiting two new independent Investigators, Dr Arpan Mehta and Dr Raja Nirujogi. Both researchers were recently awarded highly prestigious MND Translational Accelerator awards, which provide around £350,000 over 18 months.

In coming decades, the challenges related to neurodegenerative diseases will grow and Dundee researchers will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to overcome them.