Project: Development of an experimental therapeutic strategy using the newly identified growth factor CDNF for treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder of unknown cause resulting in 12-20 new cases per 100.000 people per year in European countries. In the past years several genes have been identified that are implicated in rare familial forms of PD. However, the etiology of more than 95% of PD patients is still unknown. The central symptoms of PD are the consequence of degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Promoting survival and antagonizing cell death are therefore the only real targets for the development of a therapeutic concept to cope with idiopathic PD.

Acronym	PARKCDNF
Duration	01/01/2009 - 31/12/2011
Network	NEURON
Call	NEURON-2008 Neurodegeneration

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Universitätsklinikum für die Medizinische Fakultät der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität	Coordinator	Germany
2	University of Helsinki	Partner	Finland
3	University of Helsinki	Partner	Finland
4	German Primate Center	Partner	Germany
5	Lund University Hospital	Partner	Sweden