Funding for research project on viral infections and Parkinson's disease

Inken Waltl, PhD, a scientist at the Institute for Experimental Infection Research at TWINCORE, has received €100,000 in funding from the German Society for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders for her research project ‘Virus-Induced Neuroinflammation and its Impact on Parkinson's Disease Onset and Progression (VIN-PD)’. In this project, she aims to investigate the role of viral infections in the development and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Parkinson's is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide and is characterised by the accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) in brain cells. One risk factor that is being discussed in the development of PD is viral infections, such as influenza, but also viruses that directly attack the brain. However, the exact mechanisms of the interaction between viral infections and neurodegeneration are not yet fully understood. 

Waltl and her team will therefore investigate the effects of viral infections on the development of PD in two different mouse models. These models represent typical and atypical forms of PD. Specifically, the team will investigate how immune cells, particularly CD8+ T cells and microglia, can exacerbate PD symptoms. 

‘The results of this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches to modulate the immune response to viral infections and thus prevent or slow down the development and progression of PD,’ says Waltl. ‘This could significantly improve the quality of life for patients with PD and similar diseases.’

The funding will enable deeper insights into the complex mechanisms that lead from viral infections to neurodegeneration. This is particularly important in view of the potential long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other viral infections on the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases.