Patrik Brundin is a prominent Parkinson's disease researcher and scientist. He serves as the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer at Van Andel Institute and Head of the Center for Neurodegenerative Science in Grand Rapids, Michigan[1].
Dr. Brundin received his PhD from the University of Lund in Sweden, where he initially studied neural development and cell transplantation approaches for neurological disorders. His postdoctoral work focused on understanding the mechanisms of neuronal survival and regeneration in the context of Parkinson's disease.
Following his postdoctoral training, Dr. Brundin established his own research group, which has grown to become one of the leading centers for neurodegenerative disease research in the world. His work has bridging basic science discoveries with clinical applications.
Dr. Brundin's research program focuses on:
Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation: His work has been fundamental in understanding how alpha-synuclein misfolds and aggregates in Parkinson's disease[2].
Cell Therapy: Pioneered approaches to transplant dopaminergic neurons derived from stem cells into patients with PD.
Prion-Loid Hypothesis: Contributed to the concept that misfolded proteins can propagate across neural circuits in neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Brundin's research has significantly advanced our understanding of how alpha-synuclein, a small protein normally found in presynaptic terminals, misfolds and aggregates to form Lewy bodies - the characteristic protein inclusions found in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients. His laboratory has demonstrated that these misfolded proteins can spread between neurons in a pattern that correlates with disease progression, supporting the prion-like propagation hypothesis.
A major focus of Dr. Brundin's work involves developing cell replacement therapies for Parkinson's disease. His team has pioneered methods to differentiate stem cells into dopaminergic neurons that can be transplanted into patients. This approach aims to replace the dopamine-producing neurons that are lost in Parkinson's disease, potentially restoring motor function.
Dr. Brundin's group has also conducted extensive screening for neuroprotective compounds that can prevent or slow the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These efforts have identified several promising therapeutic candidates that are being developed for clinical use.
Dr. Brundin serves as Deputy Chief Scientific Officer at Van Andel Institute, where he oversees research strategy across multiple neurodegenerative disease programs. He has established collaborations with researchers worldwide to advance understanding of Parkinson's disease and develop new therapeutic approaches.
He is also involved in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a landmark clinical study aimed at identifying biomarkers for Parkinson's disease progression.
Van Andel Institute. Patrik Brundin - Deputy Chief Scientific Officer. https://www.vai.org ↩︎
Brundin P, et al. Therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease based on alpha-synuclein. Nat Rev Neurol. 2020. ↩︎