PANSIMS

A multinational, interdisciplinary consortium will investigate the role of neuromelanin organelles in brain aging and Parkinson’s disease, with special focus on the contribution of metals to neurodegeneration. This will be achieved through multimodal imaging spanning from immunohistochemistry to novel high-resolution ion microscopy and mass spectrometry developed at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), as well as by correlating new results with patient history and previous work. As changes in neuromelanin and iron distributions can now be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, this information will not only help to better understand the subcellular causes of disease, but also foster improved diagnostic and treatment options in the future.