What motivated you to study in the field of Parkinson’s?
My interest in Parkinson’s disease stems from my time in Dr André Parent’s laboratory at the Université Laval-Robert-Giffard Research Centre many years ago (the research centre has since changed its name). Dr Parent is an exceptional man and extraordinary role model who piqued my interest and curiosity in diseases affecting the basal ganglia and movement, including Parkinson’s disease.
What are the goals of your research project?
My research projects aims to develop new treatment therapies for Parkinson’s disease. We study the role of two of the brain’s chemical substances, glutamate and serotonin. We then evaluate the efficacy of new drugs on these substances using an experimental model of the disease.
Meanwhile, we will develop a new experimental model of Parkinson’s disease that reproduces the abnormal dissemination of the alpha-synuclein protein in the brain. We will then use this new model to test the efficacy of new treatments that could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
