The scientists at Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s Research seek to advance Parkinson’s disease care through clinical trials and translational studies, including efforts to learn more about the gut-brain connection.
Shirish S. Barve, Ph.D., chief research scientist at Norton Neuroscience Institute and Norton Research Institute, leads the Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s Research clinical and translational research program. This program collaborates with fellowship-trained movement disorders neurologists Justin T. Phillips, M.D., and Jason L. Crowell, M.D., and their team, who provide patient care at Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center.
Through partnerships with leading scientists across the country and specialist clinicians at Norton Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Barve and his team are developing innovative, advanced research programs to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in neuroscience. Dr. Barve is internationally recognized for his research on the gut-brain connection and has received continuous federal funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Nearly 1 million people in the United States have Parkinson’s disease, and incidence rates are increasing, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Funding and Support for Groundbreaking Parkinson’s Research
The Norton Healthcare Foundation provided initial support of $4 million for Cressman Parkinson’s Research, which is part of a rapid expansion in this field. This funding is crucial for building knowledge and developing new treatments for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and other related neurologic conditions. The foundation supports groundbreaking new studies exploring the connection between gut health and movement disorders, with the hope of finding new treatments and prevention strategies.
Funding and Support for Groundbreaking Parkinson’s Research
Meet the Team
Shirish S. Barve, Ph.D., chief research scientist, Norton Neuroscience Institute and Norton Research Institute
Paula Chilton, Ph.D., senior research scientist
Smita Ghare, Ph.D., senior research scientist
Jiyeon Lee, Ph.D., research scientist
Fengyuan “Linda” Li, Ph.D., research scientist
Irina Smolenkova, M.D., biorepository research technician
Vasu Gautam, Ph.D., senior bioinformatician
Innovative Research on the Gut Microbiome and Neuroscience
More and more evidence suggests that changes in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) play a role in initiating and worsening symptoms of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In patients with these diseases, gut dysbiosis shows a distinct composition of bacteria, with more harmful proinflammatory bacteria and fewer helpful anti-inflammatory bacteria.
The main goal of the Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s Research team is to understand how changes in the gut-brain connection affect Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and related disorders, including perioperative cognitive decline (PCD). By gaining this knowledge, the team aims to reduce the burden of these diseases.
To achieve this goal, the team plans to conduct long-term studies and clinical trials with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and PCD patients, focusing on the gut microbiome and maintaining gut balance. Researchers are also developing advanced biology approaches using leading-edge technology supported by machine learning, artificial intelligence and data analysis methods to create useful clinical data.
The expected outcome of this research is to develop and apply “evidence-based” prevention and treatment strategies that will significantly improve patient care for those with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and PCD. By understanding and addressing the gut-brain connection, Norton Neuroscience Institute aims to pioneer new treatments and enhance the quality of life for patients.
Reviewed by Shirish S. Barve, Ph.D.
