With headquarters in Denmark, Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company highly committed to improving the quality of life of people living with brain diseases. For this purpose, Lundbeck is engaged in research, drug discovery development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company’s products are targeted at disease areas within psychiatry and neurology.

Within PD-MitoQUANT, Lundbeck:

  • is scientific co-leader as part of the PD-MitoQUANT Executive Team,
  • evaluates a range of α-synuclein (α-αSyn) fibril species to select the most promising for further investigation by the project,
  • transfers their established α-Syn fibril primary neuron seeding assay to other partners,
  • investigates mitophagy,
  • transfers samples of α-Syn fibril seeded primary neurons to PD-MitoQUANT partner Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre for investigations of correlations between morphology and functionality,
  • establishes the kinetics of the pathology development in a striatal stereotaxic α-Syn fibril injection mouse model to define the best timepoint for assessment of mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo, and
  • validates mitochondrial signatures in models of Parkinson’s.

Dr Tina Stummann

PD-MitoQUANT Scientific Co-leader Dr Tina Stummann is Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Proteinopathy at Lundbeck and a key driver of Lundbeck’s knowledge platform on mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Additionally, she is responsible for functional electrophysiological endpoints in α-Syn seeded primary neurons and leads Lundbeck’s stem cell activities, with extensive experience in neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and establishment of stem-cell-based Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s models.

With PD-MitoQUANTs clear-minded approach, the participation of mitochondrial experts and Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) funding, Tina hopes that the collaboration ultimately can lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms in Parkinson’s. Other expectations for the project are establishments of robust tools and models, which are highly crucial for the facilitation of mitochondria research in Parkinson’s.

“We want to understand if mitochondria dysfunction drives Parkinson’s progression. New knowledge here will open possibilities for finding new mitochondria-linked targets and ultimately discover new treatments for Parkinson’s.

It is fundamental to bring together knowledge of industry and academia if we are to take the next quantum steps in finding an adequate treatment for the underlying causes of Parkinson’s”.

Dr Tina Stummann

Watch “Parkinson’s Awareness” a short film produced by Lundbeck.

Other informational videos created with input from PD-MitoQUANT partners can be found here.