Abstract

Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Except for the rare, monogenic familial forms of the disease, a large majority of PD cases are sporadic in origin, likely caused by the combination of genetic and environmental factors. These risk factors are only beginning to be identified. This talk will cover our recent efforts in identifying PD risk factors and understanding their mechanisms of action using Drosophila and mice, with the long-term goal of developing disease-modifying therapies for PD.