SOD1 protein and Parkinson's disease
Official title: Investigation of Superoxide Dismutase I in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Mc Laughlin Research Institute · NIH-11350895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether clumps of the SOD1 protein occur with alpha-synuclein clumps and may make Parkinson's disease worse in people who have it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mc Laughlin Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Great Falls, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $317,634 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152335-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson's disease, especially those willing to donate brain tissue after death or participate in linked sample collections, would be most directly involved.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson's or those seeking immediate treatment benefits are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic/translational research.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine brain tissue from people who had Parkinson's disease after death to see whether SOD1 protein aggregates are present and overlap with alpha-synuclein Lewy bodies. They will use lab models, such as cell and animal experiments, to test whether SOD1 aggregation promotes neuron damage and spread of pathology. The project combines human tissue analysis with experimental work to link molecular findings to disease features. Findings could point to biological pathways that might be targeted by future therapies or biomarkers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If SOD1 is shown to contribute to Parkinson's progression, it could reveal new targets for treatments or tests to slow disease worsening.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior reports have found SOD1 aggregates in postmortem Parkinson's brains, but the connection to disease worsening remains exploratory and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Mc Laughlin Research Institute
Great Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leavens, Moses — Mc Laughlin Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Leavens, Moses
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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.