CNND highlights Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease research

Scientists at the UNMC Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders (CNND) shared their research discoveries with more than 60 community advocates at an Aug. 19 dinner at Happy Hollow Country Club.

Three CNND researchers provided progress reports to the CNND Community Awareness Council of Nebraska and other interested parties on how the center is looking for new ways to fight brain inflammation that affects neurodegenerative processes in mouse models of human Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Sharing scientific knowledge

“This was one of those times when you have the unique opportunity to share the scientific process made in medical research with the community,” said Howard Gendelman, M.D., professor of pathology and microbiology and director of the CNND. “Our research utilizes mouse models of human disease which closely reflect human neurodegenerative processes.

Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., Ph.D., and his wife, Seiko.

“Nearly every person in the room has been affected by these horrific diseases –either through a loved one or a close personal friend. This exchange has opened a rich new dialogue with the community and is just the beginning of such shared efforts we plan in the future. It is our attempt to bring scientific breakthroughs at UNMC into the living rooms of Nebraska citizens. We’re very excited about the success we’ve seen so far in opening this community dialogue.”

Collaboraring on vaccines for Parkinson’s, ALS

Dr. Gendelman said CNND scientists are collaborating with researchers from Columbia University in New York on the development of vaccines for Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Clinical trials in humans with ALS disease are expected to begin in New York this fall.

Dr. Gendelman credited Eric Benner, an M.D., Ph.D. student at the CNND, with playing a lead role in developing a blueprint for a Parkinson’s vaccine. Also instrumental in the center’s initial vaccine success were R. Lee Mosley, Ph.D., Michael Boska, Ph.D., and Travis Lewis, who developed the scientific approaches needed for measuring nerve cell protection in mice with an experimental form of Parkinson’s disease.

The CNND’s research premise

Anuja Ghorpade, Ph.D., and Eunie Denenberg, a member of the CNND Community Awareness Council.

The CNND has based much of its research on the premise that activation of two types of support cells in the brain – microglia and astrocytes – causes inflammation, and this results in the destruction of neurons, the nerve cells in the brain that receive and send out electrical signals throughout the body.

The destruction of neurons can result in serious neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

“What we have done is take an evil process (inflammation and neurodegeneration) and turned it on its heels,” Dr. Gendelman said. “We’ve taken something bad and made it good. We’ve found that inflammatory responses can have a dual role in disease.”

Additional research presentations

In addition to Dr. Gendelman, the CNND Community Awareness Council heard presentations from two other CNND scientists – Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., Ph.D., and Anuja Ghorpade, Ph.D. – as well as a visiting scientist from the Arctic Biology Laboratory at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kelly Drew, Ph.D.

From left: Howard Gendelman, M.D., with CNND supporters Sue Baggerly-Seline, left, and Kathleen Bradley and husband Sandy Goodman.

Dr. Ghorpade outlined CNND research work looking at how microglia, the supporting cells of the brain, affect brain function in health and disease. Dr. Ikezu explained some of his pioneering work on mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, including how measurements of dementia and motor function are done in mice. Both underscored the new slogan of the CNND – “the impossible is just a little more difficult than the extraordinary.”

Both Drs. Ghorpade and Ikezu are past recipients of the Vada Kinman Oldfield Alzheimer’s Research Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation for their research work in Alzheimer’s disease.

The growing need for Alzheimer’s research

Dr. Ikezu detailed the importance of Alzheimer’s research and cited figures that brought home the expected magnitude of the disease into the next decade and beyond. He said Medicare spending on Alzheimer’s disease totaled $31.9 billion in 2000 and is expected to climb to $49.3 billion by 2010. This would represent about 14.4 percent of total Medicare spending.

Mark Thomas, Ph.D., left, with Kelly Drew, Ph.D.

A study this month in the Archives of Neurology journal estimates that 13.2 million people in the United States could have Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050, nearly three times higher than the number believed to have Alzheimer’s today.

Researching Arctic ground squirrels

Dr. Drew, who is formerly from Lincoln, Neb., is now collaborating with CNND scientists on research on Arctic ground squirrels in Alaska. The Arctic ground squirrel enters a state of hibernation during the winter months and somehow comes out of hibernation each spring without any injury to the brain. During this hibernation period, the squirrel’s body temperature falls below freezing, she said.

Using a proteomics technique developed by the CNND, the scientists hope to discover what signals occur in the squirrel’s brain during hibernation to allow the brain to avoid injury. Proteomics involves the discovery of new protein signatures that may be used for both diagnosis and therapy of disease. It is hoped that the findings from this study will someday be applicable to humans.

Council members offer praise

Eunie Denenberg, a member of the CNND Community Awareness Council, with the CNND’s Robin Taylor.

The evening concluded with comments from two members of the CNND Community Awareness Council – Eunie Denenberg and Denny Lewis. Both had high praise for the CNND.

Denenberg said, “We’re proud that we have such remarkable scientists and facilities here in Omaha. It enriches our whole society.”

Lewis added, “Thank you all very much for what you’ve done for mankind.”

Fund established

In an effort to keep the CNND financially strong into the distant future, the CNND Community Awareness Council has established a fund with the University of Nebraska Foundation. For more information on this fund, call 595-2302.