- Tracer to visualize alpha-synuclein protein would aid in Parkinson's diagnosis, progression tracking and testing of novel therapies
- MJFF will award a $2 million alpha-synuclein imaging prize to the first team to develop a viable selective alpha-synuclein PET tracer and agree to make the tracer available to the research community
- There is no deadline to apply, and the contest is open to academic and industry teams
June 13, 2016
The
Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) today announced a $2 millionprize for
development of a PET tracer to visualize the protein alpha-synuclein, the
priority therapeutic target and biomarker candidate of Parkinson's disease
research. The prize aims to motivate the field toward this vital research tool,
which would allow for earlier and more precise diagnosis, progression tracking,
and more efficient and effective intervention testing.
"The
ability to image alpha-synuclein in the brain would be a game-changer for
Parkinson's translational research and would rapidly accelerate testing of
therapies to slow or stop disease progression," said Jamie Eberling,
PhD, MJFF director of research programs, who announced the prize today at the
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) annual meeting.
Academic and industry researchers, MJFF funded or not, are
eligible to apply for the prize. Contestants must provide pre-clinical and
clinical data showing selectivity and viability of their alpha-synuclein
radiotracer. Importantly, contestants must also agree to make their radiotracer
available for use by the Foundation and MJFF awardees through a nonexclusive license
or other MJFF-approved mechanism. There is no deadline for submission; the
prize will go to the first team that shows compelling evidence. Learn more
about the program at https://www.michaeljfox.org/research/imaging-prize.html.
Imaging Tool Would Accelerate Disease-modification Trials
Alpha-synuclein accumulates in the brains of people with
Parkinson's disease, and researchers believe that aggregation is the cause of
cell degeneration and death responsible for Parkinson's symptoms and
progression. Five therapies that aim to prevent or degrade alpha-synuclein
aggregates (called Lewy bodies) are currently in clinical trials with more
poised to enter human testing in the next few years.
However, the lack of an objective biological measure (or
biomarker) of Parkinson's slows testing of new treatments. The ability to
visualize alpha-synuclein in the brain would allow scientists to confirm
diagnosis earlier, and thereby intervene earlier; monitor disease progression;
and determine a patient's response to treatment in clinical studies.
"As a company with a clinical program
targeting alpha-synuclein, we applaud The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
its leadership in the pursuit of meaningful biomarkers for Parkinson's
disease," said Tara Nickerson, PhD, chief business officer at
Prothena Corporation plc, a leading biotechnology company developing protein
immunotherapies for diseases including Parkinson's. MJFF is partnering with
Prothena to support complementary work measuring alpha-synuclein in peripheral
tissues and fluids.
Prize Builds on Foundation Alpha-Synuclein Imaging Support
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has long supported the pursuit of
an alpha-synuclein PET tracer — in addition to funding of alpha-synuclein
therapies and projects investigating peripheral measures of this key protein.
In 2011, with little activity in the field, MJFF established a
public-private Alpha-synuclein Imaging
Consortium to begin work toward such a tool. If the
Foundation consortium is the first to build compelling evidence of a viable,
selective tracer, members of the team excluding MJFF staff will be awarded the
prize. The Foundation also funds a number of independent studies toward an
alpha-synuclein radio tracer.
About the Michael J. Fox Foundation
As the world's largest nonprofit 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 $600 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. For more information, visit us on the Web, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-michael-j-fox-foundation-announces-2m-prize-for-first-pet-tracer-to-visualize-key-parkinsons-protein-in-living-brain-300283424.html?
No comments:
Post a Comment