One million euros for Parkinson’s researcher Arjan Kortholt

Prof. Arjan Kortholt of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB) has received a special subsidy from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBITAK. The grant of around € 1 million is intended to be used for research into Parkinson’s disease (PD), including the appointment of five PhD students who will likely follow double degrees.

The aim of this research is to test and develop new inhibitors of the Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) enzyme. LRRK2 plays an important role in the development of PD; often, Parkinson’s patients overproduce this enzyme.

In his satellite lab at the Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey Kortholt, together with Dr Nihan Cankara, will genetically and biochemically characterize samples from Parkinson’s patients with regard to the possible LRRK2 inhibitors, and biomarkers of PD in general.