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Calcitriol imparts neuroprotection in vitro to midbrain dopaminergic neurons by upregulating GDNF expression.

This publication is ground breaking. Our data, published in this leading international science journal, shows that addition of vitamin D directly upregulates the neuroprotective factor GDNF, to protect dopamine neurons, lost in Parkinson’s disease (PD). GDNF is under trial as a therapy for PD and currently must be infused directly to patients’ brains, a costly, risky surgical procedure. Our breakthrough in this culture study suggests that there is the potential give patients oral vitamin D to stimulate GDNF release. Collaboration with Cardiff University (Prof S Dunnett) is exploring this question where we are currently investigating this theory in preclinical models of PD, with the aim to translate this to a clinical trial. Follow on funding was secured from Parkinson's society.