Grants Fund Sleep Research for Parkinson's Disease
The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson's UK have awarded grants for two research projects investigating whether improving restorative sleep can slow
Two new research grants will fund studies into sleep-based treatments for Parkinson's disease. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) and Parkinson's UK are supporting separate projects led by the biotech company AstronauTx and University College London.
These projects aim to determine if enhancing specific sleep stages can reduce the buildup of pathological proteins linked to neurological decline. The focus is on restorative sleep mechanisms, an emerging area for therapeutic development.
Targeting REM Sleep Disorder
The MJFF-funded project will explore using novel compounds to enhance restorative sleep. AstronauTx will generate preclinical data to support developing one compound as a potential disease-modifying treatment. The research specifically focuses on REM sleep behavior disorder, a recognized early indicator of Parkinson's disease.
Shalini Padmanabhan, PhD, senior vice president and head of translational research at MJFF, highlighted the potential of this approach. "Restorative sleep mechanisms are an emerging area of interest for therapeutic development in Parkinson's disease," Padmanabhan said. She noted the work could offer new opportunities to intervene earlier in the disease process.
Boosting Slow-Wave Sleep Clearance
A parallel project funded by Parkinson's UK will investigate a different sleep mechanism. Researchers at University College London (UCL), led by Ian Harrison and supported by AstronauTx, will study whether increasing slow-wave sleep enhances the brain's glymphatic system.
This study will evaluate if a sleep-enhancing compound that increases slow-wave activity results in the removal of the neurotoxic protein alpha-synuclein. The research will use a Parkinson's disease mouse model to test the hypothesis.
A New Therapeutic Approach
Jane Rhodes, CEO of AstronauTx, expressed gratitude for the support from both foundations. She stated the company aims to unlock a completely new approach to treating Parkinson's disease by targeting the mechanisms that regulate restorative sleep.
"We believe this grant-funded work has the potential to directly support the development of new disease-modifying approaches for patients," Rhodes said in a release. The company is preparing its lead program for clinical development in 2027.
Together, these programs will provide insights into the relationship between sleep biology and Parkinson's disease. AstronauTx is also advancing a pipeline of therapies targeting sleep architecture for Alzheimer's disease and related neurological conditions.
