In February, the largest research investment in Parkinson's disease in Danish history landed in Aarhus. PACE, as the centre is called, will gather all its expertise - from basic to clinical research - under one roof and recruit completely new disciplines to the field. The goal is to create a world-class research centre.

Increased prioritisation of research is a game-changer

The management team includes DANDRITE Professor Poul Henning Jensen, Professor Marina Romero-Ramos and Clinical Professor Per Borghammer, who is now director of the centre. Together, they have 75 years of experience in Parkinson's disease research, and according to them, this targeted prioritisation of the research area is a crucial game changer for both research and patients.

“For many years, Parkinson's disease has been an under-prioritised area because it was seen as something you just got because you got old. But it's a disease that affects a huge number of people. There is no cure, and the disease only gets worse. It's terrible for both the patients and their relatives, and it's extremely expensive for society,” explains Per Borghammer, and he continues:

“We know from other diseases, like cancer, that if we prioritise research and investment, we can achieve great progress. Cancer research has shown that when we give it the attention it deserves, we can develop treatments that save lives. If we can apply the same focus and dedication to Parkinson's disease, there is hope that we can also find ways to slow, or even stop, the progression of the disease.”

PACE builds on a strong local neuro environment

Many of the researchers in the centre are rooted in the strong neuroscience community that Aarhus has built up over decades. This provides an unusually broad approach to Parkinson's disease - from researchers working with the smallest molecular and cellular mechanisms to basic researchers working with cell cultures and animal models to clinical neurologists examining patients with scans and tissue samples. The research also extends to the societal level, where large-scale registry studies are used to uncover risk factors and disease patterns.

According to Poul Henning Jensen, it is precisely the multidisciplinary environment that makes PACE unique in an international context:

“We can do something in Aarhus that you can't do very many other places. With the recruitment of new disciplines, we can gather expertise at a level that few places in the world can match. The ambition is that we will have a critical mass that can place us in the absolute super league of Parkinson's research,” he says.

Parkinson's must be seen as a chronic disease that can be controlled

The multidisciplinary focus of PACE is essential. The last 25 years of research have shown that Parkinson's disease is far more complex than just a dopamine-related disorder associated with old age.

It affects not only the brain but the entire nervous system, which is connected to the body's other organs. This means that the symptoms go far beyond the classic motor signs, such as tremors, and they often show up long before. Today, we know that constipation, sleep disorders and depression can be early warning signs of Parkinson's.

That's why PACE research is based on an understanding of Parkinson's as a chronic disease - like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, for example. These are diseases that cannot necessarily be cured but can be controlled if detected and treated early.

“There are many chronic diseases that, if left untreated, can lead to serious consequences. But today, most people with high blood pressure, for example, live without problems as long as they take their medication. That's exactly where we need to go with Parkinson's: to make it a disease you can live well with if you follow the treatment. And it's absolutely realistic to get there,” says Per Borghammer.

Recruitment is a top priority right now

Recruitment is a top priority for the barely two-month-old research centre. The goal is to attract the right talent to fill the professional gaps and strengthen the breadth of research.

The first key hires include a clinical neurologist, research nurses and two group leaders specialising in 4D disease modelling in cells and animals. A researcher specialising in registry-based research in Parkinson's disease is also among the positions. The centre is also working to strengthen collaboration with both other clinical specialties and technical disciplines, such as engineers, who play an important role in the interdisciplinary approach.

With the full team in place, the two researchers do not doubt that PACE will make a significant impact in the foreseeable future. They are confident that within the next ten years, the centre will not only have generated new knowledge about Parkinson’s disease but will also have identified at least one new therapeutic target – one that can first be tested in animal models and later in patients.

"Equally important is our aim to develop treatments that alleviate non-motor symptoms, which are often overlooked – such as constipation, urinary issues, depression, anxiety, and pain. We firmly believe that we can improve the quality of life for many people living with Parkinson’s, while simultaneously working with purpose to slow the progression of the disease," says Per Borghammer.