Lasse Reimer
Parkinson's
From fungi to medication
The researchers are also exploring ways of blocking or at least delaying this disease mechanism. Although work is still at an early stage, they have identified certain new and promising substances that could be used to develop a whole new type of medication capable of slowing down the otherwise inevitable progress of the disease.
‘The project started with the surprising discovery that the abnormal Parkinson’s protein alpha-synuclein activated a calcium pump in the nerve cells, which damages them. A five-year research grant from the Lundbeck Foundation in 2016 let us study the mechanism in more detail. A mouse model showed that a specific mycotoxin –a toxin produced by some fungi – could inhibit the mechanism and halt the progress of the disease. Now, with the help of the Frontier Grant, our goal is to develop substances that not only affect the mechanism but can also be administered as medications,’ says Professor Jensen.
Bringing the biotech vision to life
Lasse Reimer PhD from the DANDRITE research group has received a grant from the Lundbeck Foundation's new Frontier Grants programme. The DKK 5 million will cover the costs of maturing the project over an 18-month period. The hope is for the project eventually to attract sufficient capital to continue as an independent biotech company, or possibly be acquired by a pharmaceutical company. As well as money, the grant also includes an individually tailored personal development programme, complete with mentors and courses. The idea is to give recipients the tools needed to become biotech entrepreneurs.
‘As a young researcher, it is a tremendous privilege to be the first recipient of the Lundbeck Foundation Frontier Grant. On a personal level, it gives me a unique opportunity to take a promising research project, one I’ve been part of for years, out of the lab and one step closer to patients. The Frontier Grant also comes with a personal development plan, which – combined with the talented people around me – will give me the skills I need to excel as a biotech entrepreneur,’ says Reimer.
Several things need to fall into place before major investors take the plunge and fund a development programme that – unless it is a failure – might ultimately lead to a completely new treatment option for people with Parkinson’s and other serious brain disorders.
The Lundbeck Foundation fuels young neuroscientist’s biotech vision with a DKK 5 million grant
