Understanding swallowing problems in Parkinson’s disease using a rat model
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-11367935 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how Parkinson’s-related brain changes beyond the usual areas affect swallowing, using rat models to find ways to help people with PD who have trouble eating or aspirating.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $321,589 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035118-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367935 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with Parkinson’s disease who experience swallowing difficulties and aspiration risk, currently eligible for clinical trials or future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose swallowing problems are solely due to non-neurological factors or those without Parkinson’s-related feeding impairment may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses rats to compare how different brain injuries from Parkinson’s disease disrupt chew-swallow-breathe coordination. It will test two models of neurodegeneration—a general rotenone model and a targeted 6-OHDA nigrostriatal lesion—to identify which feeding problems are not just due to movement issues. The study will look at behavior, biomechanics, and nerve-muscle activity during eating to pinpoint treatment-resistant components. Findings could point to new targets outside the classic dopamine pathways that underlie swallowing difficulties in PD. Overall, the work aims to map where in the brain feeding control goes wrong and how to approach therapy beyond current dopamine-focused treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new targets for therapies to improve swallowing and reduce aspiration risk in people with Parkinson’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that non-dopaminergic brain regions can influence feeding and swallowing in PD models, suggesting potential for new therapeutic strategies.
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.