For over a century, different surgical interventions have been explored to address symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and researchers are continuing to innovate and improve surgical treatments today. With new technology and an ever-expanding understanding of the function of the nervous system and the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, neurosurgical interventions are becoming more effective and more personalized. Dr. Doris Wang joins us in this episode to discuss her work using focused ultrasound and deep brain stimulation (DBS) as treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. She discusses some of the benefits and limitations of focused ultrasound treatment, comparisons of traditional versus asleep interventional MRI-guided deep brain stimulation surgery, advances in adaptive deep brain stimulation, and the development of gait-related biomarkers that could drive adaptive DBS. Doris is a neurosurgeon and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

This podcast is geared toward researchers and clinicians. If you live with Parkinson’s or have a friend or family member with PD, listen to The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast. Hear from scientists, doctors and people with Parkinson's on different aspects of life with the disease as well as research toward treatment breakthroughs at https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcasts.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research established its Research Tools Program to address gaps in the field and common challenges surrounding the development of reagents and models that slowed the initial stages of promising research projects. In collaboration with many partners and stakeholders, the Research Tools Program helps ensure that scientists around the world have access to high-quality reagents, models, and more. These tools have been instrumental in launching novel research projects to better understand Parkinson's disease and to develop promising new treatment strategies. This episode features Dr. Nicole K. Polinski, Director of Research Resources at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. In our conversation, she discusses her role in the organization, the wide variety of tools available through the Research Tools Program, and how academic and industry researchers can share their insights and feedback on current tools and future directions for tool development.

This podcast is geared toward researchers and clinicians. If you live with Parkinson’s or have a friend or family member with PD, listen to The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast. Hear from scientists, doctors and people with Parkinson's on different aspects of life with the disease as well as research toward treatment breakthroughs at https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcasts.

Increasing evidence supports the presence of sex and gender differences in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. There is a critical need to more closely examine sex and gender differences in all stages of research, therapeutic development, and clinical treatment to enable better outcomes through precision medicine approaches. This episode focuses on the relevance of sex and gender factors in Parkinson's disease and efforts to transform scientific research, policy, and healthcare to identify and address needs based on sex and gender. Our guest Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha discusses her work with the Women’s Brain Project, their recent roundtable on enhancing care in Parkinson’s disease, and the organization's goals for the future. Antonella is a medical doctor with experience spanning positions in clinical care, academic research, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (regulatory), and industry leadership and consultation for large pharmaceutical companies and smaller start-up companies. She is currently Co-Founder and Pro Bono Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Brain Project, an international non-profit organization studying sex and gender determinants to brain and mental health.

This podcast is geared toward researchers and clinicians. If you live with Parkinson’s or have a friend or family member with PD, listen to The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast. Hear from scientists, doctors and people with Parkinson's on different aspects of life with the disease as well as research toward treatment breakthroughs at https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcasts.