# Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $1,500

## Abstract

Alabama Udall Center: Overall
 The development of neuroprotective strategies for PD is a vital unmet need. As stated in the Report to the
NINDS Council (PD2014), “the community of investigators focused on PD now strives to create therapies that
meaningfully slow or stop the disease mechanisms that underlie all symptoms of PD.” The Alabama Udall
Center is a response to these needs, and a product of our work under an NINDS Exploratory Grant Program in
Parkinson's Disease Research (P20NS092530).
 It has long been recognized that in post-mortem brain tissue from PD there is activation of the innate
immune system, with prominent microgliosis in the substantia nigra together with enhanced production of
cytokines and chemokines. Recently, it has become clear that there is also activation of adaptive immunity,
with infiltration of T-cells and accumulation of immunoglobulins in perineural regions. We envisage that a better
understanding of immune changes in PD will identify specific targets and therapeutic strategies that will block
neurodegeneration.
 This Program Project will address two overall scientific Aims: 1) to determine the extent and nature of
immune activation in early human PD; and 2) to determine whether inhibiting LRRK2 and JAK/STAT signaling
pathways can block immune responses that underlie alpha-synuclein linked neurodegeneration. Our central
hypothesis is that innate and adaptive immune cells, particularly monocytes and T-cells, are activated early in
disease, and that blocking LRRK2 or JAK/STAT signaling in these cells will protect from neurodegeneration.
We will utilize advanced small molecule ligands and inhibitors, genetic approaches, detailed studies of subsets
of immune cells and bone marrow transplantation approaches to test the hypothesis. Each project is anchored
through the Clinical Core that will provide samples from human subjects, and the Animal Models Core that
harmonizes pre-clinical studies in the alpha-synuclein mouse fibril model of PD.
 The Alabama Udall Center also has important missions related to training and outreach. We seek to train
the next generation of scientists and physicians, in order to accelerate progress towards the PD treatments
and cures of the future. We will engage the community of persons with PD who are our partners in these
efforts. We seek to create a team and environment focused on the identification of innate and adaptive immune
responses critical to PD pathogenesis, and rapidly advance an innovative, interdisciplinary, highly impactful
research program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10253487
- **Project number:** 3P50NS108675-03S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID G. STANDAERT
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-07 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10253487

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10253487, Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease (3P50NS108675-03S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10253487. Licensed CC0.

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