Aim
To identify immune-related biomarkers in the blood of people with Parkinson's disease that will enable clinicians to easily diagnose, stratify, and follow patients based on their presence. The IMPAD project also aimed to identify novel targets for immunomodulation that can be used for treating the disease.
Approach
The IMPAD team used blood samples from both healthy controls and well-characterized people with Parkinson’s disease to identify changes in the immune system at different disease stages and subtypes. The blood samples were subjected to both cellular and protein analyses. In this way, the IMPAD team could both show how the neurons are at different stages of Parkinson's disease, and identify blood biomarkers that are only present during disease or at specific stages of the disease. Taken together, the IMPAD team can show how the presence of blood biomarkers evolves in association with the neuronal changes.
Outcome
During the project (2021–2023), the IMPAD team analysed blood samples from healthy controls and well-characterized people with Parkinson's disease to identify immune-related changes associated with different disease stages and subtypes. Using both cellular and protein analyses, the team identified candidate blood biomarkers linked to disease progression and generated new insights into the relationship between immune changes and neuronal pathology. These findings provide a foundation for developing blood-based tools to support diagnosis, patient stratification, and disease monitoring, as well as for identifying potential targets for immunomodulatory therapies.
On this page, you can watch a video recorded at the beginning of the IMPAD project. You can also read an article on the output of the project and find lists of project participants.
THE IMPAD TEAM
Academic team members
- Marina Romero-Ramos, Professor, Aarhus University
- Jørgen Kjems, Professor, Aarhus University
- Per Borghammer, Professor, Aarhus University Hospital
- Ankita Singh
- Sara A. Ferreira
Industrial team members
- Karina Fog, H. Lundbeck
- Kaspar Russ, H. Lundbeck
ABOUT ODIN
We unite bright minds from industry and academia to jointly create need-driven clinical research projects - and pave the way for innovative new treatments and diagnostics. We fund the best project ideas through competitive funding calls. Although companies cannot receive funding, it is free of charge to join.
The platform is sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 180 million DKK from 2024-2029.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk or find the Secretariat's direct email addresses under contacts.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
