Investigating how trichloroethylene exposure affects Parkinson's disease development
Official title: The role of lysosomal impairment in trichloroethylene induced Parkinsonian neurodegeneration
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11041139 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being around a chemical called trichloroethylene (TCE) might be linked to developing Parkinson's disease, and it hopes to find new ways to prevent or treat the condition by understanding how TCE affects brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | February 25, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $448,243 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034846-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11041139 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who have been exposed to trichloroethylene or are at risk for developing Parkinson's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to environmental contaminants or do not have a risk for Parkinson's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the connection between exposure to the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) and the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). It focuses on how TCE impairs the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, leading to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of PD. By studying the mechanisms of this impairment, the research aims to uncover how environmental factors contribute to neurodegeneration. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new prevention or treatment strategies for PD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new understanding and potential therapeutic targets for preventing or treating Parkinson's disease linked to environmental exposures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that environmental toxins can influence neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Miranda, Briana — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: De Miranda, Briana
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.