Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a rapidly growing neurodegenerative disorder, with projections indicating that the global prevalence will rise to 25.2 million cases by 2050—a 112% increase since 2021. Currently, PD affects about 267 individuals per 100,000 population, a figure expected to increase substantially as the population ages, particularly in East and South Asia. Traditional therapeutic strategies, including dopaminergic medications and deep brain stimulation, offer symptomatic relief but fail to halt disease progression or address the underlying neurodegenerative process. Disease-modifying approaches remain a critical unmet need.
Among emerging disease-modifying targets, Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) has gained significant interest due to its strong genetic association with both familial and sporadic PD. LRRK2 pathogenic mutations lead to increased kinase activity, driving neurodegenerative processes in preclinical models. Inhibiting LRRK2 kinase function has shown promise
Ming intends to achieve the following milestones:
- Hits from biochmical and celluar assays against both lrrk2 and its 8 popular off-target kinases
- Cryo-EM structure of lrrk2-hit complex
- 5 lead compounds for further experiments