Unravelling the Pharmacological Activation of PINK1, a Protein Kinase Mutated in Parkinson’s Disease

Project Code

MRCNMH25Ca Mehellou

Research Theme

Neuroscience & Mental Health

Project Summary Download

Summary

“Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disease in the world. Current PD therapies and medical interventions are limited to addressing the symptoms of this disease. Thus, there is a need for new and effective treatments for PD.

Recently, we discovered molecules that activate a protein kinase called PINK1, which is mutated in early-onset PD. In this project, we now aim to use a multidisciplinary approach, which spans biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology, to understand how these molecules activate PINK1. The advances achieved from this project will facilitate the future discovery of effective treatments for PD.”

Lead Supervisor

Dr Youcef Mehellou

Lead Supervisor Email

mehellouy1@cardiff.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Cardiff