Hope Flies Health Series Webinar—Research Connecting Parkinson’s and Mitochondrial Disease

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine (FMM) hosts its next Hope
Flies Health Series Webinar: Research Connecting Parkinson’s Disease
and Mitochondrial Disease on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 1:00 pm
EDT. The Foundation developed the webinar with partners including the
Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), Wilkins Parkinson’s Foundation and
Sharecare to particularly bring greater awareness to mitochondrial
disease and its connection to Parkinson’s disease. The webinar is free;
however registration is requested in advance at www.mitochondrialdiseases.org/hfhswebinars.

During the webinar, participants can learn more about the scientific
connection and interest Parkinson’s researchers have in mitochondria and
mitochondrial function. Experts on the call will share the latest
developments from a specific research project the FMM and MJFF co-funded
exploring this link to activate and stabilize the Parkin protein, which
may allow it to break down damaged mitochondria and thereby prevent cell
death in some Parkinson’s patients. Stabilizing Parkin will be a
positive strike for Parkinson’s disease and for mitochondrial disease.

Panelists for the webinar include Wolfdieter Springer, PhD, Assistant
Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic; Laura Stanley, Executive
Director, FMM; Bill Wilkins, Founder of the Wilkins Parkinson’s
Foundation, and the moderator will be Darria Gillespie, MD MBA, FACEP,
SVP Clinical Strategy of Sharecare. Dr. Springer will provide an update
on his primary research focus: the molecular and cellular mechanisms
underlying the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and other related
neurodegenerative disorders.

Additional topics include an overview of Parkinson’s and the challenges
and progress today surrounding research of Parkinson’s and mitochondrial
function; an overview of mitochondrial disease today and progress being
made; and how patients and caregivers can manage both diseases.

About the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine

The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine is a 501(c) (3) non-profit
organization dedicated to supporting the development of the most
promising research and treatments of the many forms of mitochondrial
disease. Visit www.mitochondrialdiseases.org
for more information.

Contacts

For The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine
Jennifer Grizzle,
770-409-1152
jennifer@theprstudio.com