Study Rationale: Many studies of Parkinson’s disease (PD) focus on investigating the disease’s genetic component. Yet only about 22% of PD diagnoses carry a genetic association. Increasing evidence suggests environmental toxins correlate with disease diagnosis, but few well-established laboratory platforms allow scientists to study this interaction in disease-relevant human cells at large-scale. This study aims to establish a proof-of-principle platform to assess PD-related toxicity in human cells, with the potential to expand into further studies investigating the interaction between genes and the environment in PD.
Hypothesis: We hypothesize that we can develop a platform to assess PD-related toxicity in human cells, and that this platform can be further expanded to investigate the interaction between genes and the environment in PD.
Study Design: We will build upon advanced robotic systems developed by the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) to produce brain cells from the stem cells of people with PD. To expand this platform, our team will first determine the optimal parameters for screening toxins on PD-affected cells at a large scale. We will then leverage NYSCF’s advanced cell-imaging capabilities to identify how exactly toxins impact brain cells.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease: This study will create an invaluable tool for studying the environmental component of PD in human cells. The work will identify cellular features of the disease influenced by environmental toxins and point to new opportunities for prevention or treatment.
Next Steps for Development: If successful, this work will identify new disease targets associated with environmental toxins that could be targeted therapeutically. It will also provide insight into how an individual’s genetics could influence susceptibility to toxins, informing strategies for PD prevention.