Stanford PD Community Blog

Today, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) announced 25 grants to support cutting-edge PD research for the 2025-2026 funding year, a 55% increase from last year.  The newly-funded research projects span a wide range of key areas in PD research, including the propagation and degradation of alpha-synuclein, synaptic lipid imbalances in synucleinopathies, and the identification of genetic and circuit-based therapeutic targets.  Congratulations to Stanford’s Gaurav Chattree, MD, who received the George C. Cotzias Fellowship, given to a young neurologist.  Dr. Chattree’s project focuses on novel therapeutic strategies for pathologic circuits in Parkinson’s.  This fellowship is named in honor of the scientist who had a critical role in developing Levodopa as a treatment for PD. 

Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed based on clinical exam, but there are brain imaging tests that are available to help in diagnosis. This August 2025 American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) article is all about the Dopamine Transporter Scan (DaTscan) and other brain imaging used when PD is suspected or when the clinician seeks to exclude PD.