DZNE project receives funding for research into Parkinson’s biomarkers in tears

A research team led by Prof. Björn Falkenburgerat the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden (DZNE) has received funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). The project aims to improve the early detection of Parkinson's disease by analyzing protein changes in tear fluid. The Dresden working group is collaborating closely with DZNE sites in Munich and Göttingen.

The project is based on an established diagnostic approach. A seed amplification test can reliably detect misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which are a central pathological feature of Parkinson's disease. However, obtaining CSF via a lumbar puncture can be stressful for many patients.

Therefore, the researchers would like to test whether the same biomarker can be detected in tears. If successful, the test could be noninvasive, patient-friendly, and potentially used for screening in the future. The MJFF describes the project as an important step toward earlier, safer, and more widely available diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Prof. Falkenburger's research group is one of the world's leading teams in developing these test procedures further. In addition to the current funding, the team has received two other significant grants.

Additional funding from MJFF supports the systematic investigation of large patient cohorts with neurodegenerative diseases at various stages. This project is being carried out jointly with DZNE sites in Tübingen and Munich.

Further funding from the Parkinson's Foundation enables the development of a more precise seed amplification test to differentiate between different polymorphic forms of synuclein pathology. This project is also being carried out in cooperation with the DZNE site in Tübingen.

About the project