There is a pressing need to develop safe and effective disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments for Parkinson's disease. Through improvements in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as genetic risk factors, new potential treatment targets have emerged. However, bringing a promising new compound from the lab through all of the steps of drug development is a long, difficult, and resource-intensive process. In recent years, collaborative efforts and advances in biomarkers have led to important breakthroughs that have the potential to facilitate the development of new drugs for Parkinson's disease. In this episode, Dr. Kalpana Merchant draws from over two decades of pharmaceutical industry experience to share progress in drug discovery and development for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Kalpana is President and Chief Scientific Officer at TransThera Consulting, which provides guidance on drug discovery and translational strategies to biopharma startup companies. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, a member of the Oregon Innovation Council, a Scientific Advisor at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, and she serves on advisory panels at the National Institutes of Health.

This podcast is geared toward researchers and clinicians. If you live with Parkinson’s or have a friend or family member with PD, listen to The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast. Hear from scientists, doctors and people with Parkinson's on different aspects of life with the disease as well as research toward treatment breakthroughs at https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcasts.