Research Director

Nobutaka Hattori

School of Medicine, Juntendo University
Professor
website

Outline

Increase of number of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) causes increment of medical and nursing costs because of the rapid population ageing in Japan. In this study, we try to develop serum metabolite biomarker(s) of PD patients to make accurate differential diagnosis as well as disease-grading possible with metabolomics techniques. Also, to figure out the relationship of the identified biomarker(s) with disease pathogenesis, we perform confirmation studies with DNA/RNA, disease models of mice and neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells. Likewise, chemical screening is performed to identify drug seeds to correct the biomarkers, leading to modification of the disease course.