[S-29] Symposium 29
Preparing for disease-modifying therapies in PD – From biomarkers, animal models to novel therapeutic approach

[S-29-5] Disease-modifying therapeutics targeting alpha-synuclein

^○Masayuki Nakamori (Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan)

For the realization of disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in PD, appropriate animal models for the preclinical study and early and progression biomarkers in PD are essential. As a target of DMT much attention have been paid for mitochondria and alpha synuclein, especially. The aim of this symposium is, 1) to update recent findings in biomarkers and animal models in PD including its prodromal stage, and 2) to introduce novel therapeutic approach, focusing on mitochondria and alpha-synuclein which are the key players in idiopathic PD.

Dr. Masayuki Nakamori is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. Dr. Nakamori studied at Osaka University, receiving his M.D. in 1999. He trained in Neurology at Osaka University Hospital, Osaka Koseinenkin Hospital, and National Toneyama Hospital. He then received his Ph.D. in 2007 from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, for his thesis work on myotonic dystrophy. From 2007 to 2012, he did postdoctoral research in Charles Thornton’s lab at the University of Rochester, where he studied trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders and their therapeutic intervention. He joined the faculty at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in 2013. Dr. Nakamori’s research focuses on understanding the disease mechanism in trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders, such as myotonic dystrophy, and therapeutic development by using small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides.