Understanding Swallowing Difficulties in Parkinson's Disease
Official title: Impact of nigral and extranigral neurodegeneration on aerodigestive discoordination in a pesticide model of Parkinson's disease
Funded at Rowan University School/osteopathic Med · NIH-11176002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how different types of brain damage in Parkinson's disease affect swallowing and breathing coordination, hoping to find better ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rowan University School/osteopathic Med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stratford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $318,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035118-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational animal model work is relevant for patients experiencing swallowing difficulties and aerodigestive discoordination due to Parkinson's disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose swallowing problems are not related to Parkinson's disease or similar neurodegenerative processes may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many people with Parkinson's disease experience swallowing problems that current treatments for movement issues don't help. This suggests that damage outside the usual brain areas affected by Parkinson's might be involved. Our work uses animal models to look closely at how different parts of the brain contribute to feeding difficulties. We aim to pinpoint which specific swallowing problems are resistant to treatment and link them to particular areas of brain damage. This will help us understand why these issues occur and how we might develop more effective therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments specifically designed to address the swallowing and breathing problems that significantly impact the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of comparing nigral and extranigral neurodegeneration in aerodigestive discoordination is novel, previous animal models have been successful in mimicking aspects of Parkinson's disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Rowan University School/osteopathic Med
Stratford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gould, Francois — Rowan University School/osteopathic Med
- Study coordinator: Gould, Francois
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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.