#  HSCI scientist receives awards to study Parkinson’s Disease 

 





September 21, 2020

 

 

 HSCI Principal Faculty member Vikram Khurana has received three awards to advance his innovative research on Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts millions of patients around the world.

 Khurana is a winner of the “[Ken Griffin Alpha-synuclein Imaging Competition](https://www.michaeljfox.org/publication/michael-j-fox-foundation-announces-winners-ken-griffin-alpha-synuclein-imaging)” by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that plays a key role in Parkinson’s disease, forming misfolded aggregates that impact neuron function. Khurana will develop a new technology to track the protein via imaging, in order to better understand its pathology as the disease develops.

 Khurana has also received a grant from [Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s](https://parkinsonsroadmap.org/research-network/biology-of-pd-associated-genetics/) to investigate why some individuals with genetic risk factors develop Parkinson’s disease, while others do not. He will use patient stem cells to study the different genetic, age-related, and cell-type-specific factors that may lead to Parkinson’s disease, with the goal of developing improved diagnostics and predicting therapeutic targets.

 Finally, Khurana has received a Research Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health. With funding over the next five years, he will study the mechanisms of alpha-synuclein aggregation using patient stem cell models and brain tissue. Beyond Parkinson’s disease, this work will shed light on other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Research Update ](/news-type/research-update)
- [ Nervous System Diseases Program ](/related-disease-program/nervous-system-diseases-program)
- [ Vikram Khurana ](/related-faculty-member/vikram-khurana)
- [ Alzheimer's Disease ](/related-news-topic/alzheimers-disease)
- [ Nervous System Diseases ](/related-news-topic/nervous-system-diseases)
- [ Parkinson's Disease ](/related-news-topic/parkinsons-disease)
- [ 2020 ](/year/2020)
 
 

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