July 03, 2012
Simon Moller, Ph.D, Professor of Biological Sciences at St.
John’s University, has been awarded a $900,000 research grant from
The Research Council of Norway.
The grant supports Dr. Moller’s research on mechanisms involved
in the onset of Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative disorder
affecting neurons that enable the brain to generate body movements.
Through his research, Professor Moller hopes to discover more
effective ways of diagnosing and treating this illness in its
earliest stages.
“The methods for diagnosing and treating the disease have
progressed very little since the seventies,” said Dr. Moller. “By
the time a case is diagnosed, much of the damage is done.”
Because they posses all but one of the genes that cause
Parkinson’s in humans, Dr. Moller will conduct his research on
plants. He will also incorporate the use of zebra fish and
mammalian neurons.
“We’ve merged these three models, which I think makes for a more
powerful approach to reaching some answers,” he said.
Dr. Moller will employ four postdoctoral researchers and purchase
state-of-the-art equipment, which will create more opportunities
for research-based education at St. John’s.
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Director of Media Relations at St. John’s, by calling 718-990-5789,
or by e-mail to reillye@stjohns.edu.