Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells. Mutations in the mitochondria appear to be associated with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects around a million people in Europe. It is triggered by the death of neurons that produce a chemical called dopamine; in order to properly work, these neurons need a lot of energy.

Focusing on mitochondria dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease, the PD-MitoQUANT project aims to identify and validate molecular drivers and mechanisms of the condition and discover innovative therapeutic targets that can be further developed by the pharmaceutical companies. Current therapies can cause adverse side effects, and cannot stop, slow or reverse disease progression. This makes the improvement of Parkinson’s disease-related treatments even more urgently needed.