Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and are a major national/global research priority due to their rising prevalence. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease collectively affect millions worldwide, leading to disability, reduced quality of life, and premature death. As populations age, the incidence and cost of these disorders are expected to grow substantially, straining healthcare systems. Despite their impact, many neurological diseases remain poorly understood, with few effective therapies. Advancing research on their causes is essential for developing early diagnostics, preventive strategies, and treatments to reduce suffering and improve global health. 

Our research strategy aims to bridge fundamental discovery and clinical application, with a strong emphasis on translating new therapies into the clinic and using newly developed tools to calibrate therapeutic approaches to the characteristics and needs of individual patients.

Our research includes the development of biometal-based biomarkers for early disease detection and aims to establish guidelines on modifiable lifestyle risk factors related to metal exposure and metabolism—contributing directly to preventive and public health efforts. 

The BiNDs Team is inherently collaborative, drawing on multidisciplinary expertise from across our institution and international partners. We are building a globally connected research hub that promotes resource sharing, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in the field of elemental neurobiology.

Our laboratory-based research is focused on understanding how Parkinson’s disease damages brain cells and how we can intervene to halt this process. We are also working to develop better diagnostic tools and targeted treatment strategies for this debilitating disease.

We are currently focused on understanding neuronal vulnerability; that is, how and why Parkinson’s disease kills certain cells in the brain. This can help us to find better ways to make cells more resilient and develop new treatments that can protect brain cells. For example, we are investigating whether modifying metal levels in the brain, such as copper and iron, can slow the disease’s progress.

We are also investigating whether brain changes in Parkinson’s disease are similar to those in other brains disorders and what we might learn from these overlapping disease mechanisms.

Finally, our work aims to improve the methods used to diagnose Parkinson’s disease such that it may be identified early in the trajectory of the disease and with greater accuracy.