BioFocus, in Collaboration with the UCL Institute of Neurology, Receives Rapid Response Innovation Award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation

BioFocus has received a Rapid Response Innovation Award  from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, a not-for-profit organization focused on developing therapies for Parkinson’s disease. BioFocus will use the investment to develop a high-throughput, high-content assay platform to support the discovery of targets and agents that break the pathogenic loop between glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and a-synuclein, considered to be a major mechanism leading to Parkinson’s disease. 

The project is further supported by a new collaboration between BioFocus and Professor Tony Schapira, Institute of Neurology, University College London, a renowned medical researcher in Parkinson’s disease. 

Prof. Tony Schapira commented: “The link between mutations in the GBA gene and Parkinson’s disease has been affirmed by multiple clinical studies. The development of a disease-relevant cell model system to support drug discovery on this mechanism will be a critical asset to the Parkinson’s disease research community.”

Prof. Julie Frearson, Senior Director Scientific Alliances and Translational Research, BioFocus, said: “We are delighted and honored to receive this grant. This funding will allow BioFocus to continue tackling novel and challenging therapeutic mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease.”