In a recent review article, a team of scientists from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) describes the current state of in vitro Parkinson’s research. For example, immunocompetent midbrain organoids are being developed to specifically investigate how inflammation arises in the human brain in Parkinson’s disease and how it damages nerve cells. Such models are also suitable to test drugs that specifically target the inflammatory response of microglia and could thus slow the progression of the disease.

As part of the “Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program,” an international research team led by Dr. Lara M. Lange and Prof. Dr. Christine Klein from the Institute of Neurogenetics at the University of Lübeck has presented the largest genetic data analysis on Parkinson’s to date, extending beyond European and North American patients. They found that the frequency of disease-causing genetic variations varies greatly depending on the patients’ geographical origin.

ERA4NAMs (European Research Area for New Approach Methodologies) is a European initiative aimed at promoting and accelerating the adoption of NAMs. The ERA4NAMs Working Group on Education and Training has launched a survey to gain an overview of the current situation regarding education, training, and capacity building in the field of NAMs in Europe and beyond.

The annual conference of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches (EPAA) will take place in Brussels on this Year's November 17. It will focus on the implementation of the roadmap developed by the EU for phasing out animal testing in chemical assessment. Representatives from industry, the European Commission, regulatory agencies, academia, research organizations, NGOs, as well as international interest groups will come together to discuss the future of NAMs and their integration into science and regulation.