AVC researcher awarded prestigious grant for research into Parkinson’s disease

Dr. Jay Penney, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Genetics at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), has been awarded a three-year research grant by Parkinson Canada to study a newly discovered genetic mutation linked to Parkinson’s disease.

“This is meaningful to me both personally and professionally,” said Dr. Penney. “This research could help us better understand how Parkinson’s develops at a cellular level, and then potentially treat it.”

The $135,000 grant supports research into a mutation of the RAB32 gene, a recently identified cause of Parkinson’s disease. This specific mutation was discovered less than a year ago and has been shown to almost always lead to Parkinson’s when present, and Dr. Penney wants to know why.

Dr. Penney plans to use advanced human stem cell models to create neurons and microglia (specialized brain cells) to study how the RAB32 mutation disrupts their function. “The idea is to see how the mutation affects these cells, and by understanding that, we can begin to piece together how it contributes to disease.”

Before joining AVC a year and a half ago, Dr. Penney focused on Alzheimer’s disease during his postdoctoral training. While the two diseases share several cellular mechanisms, Parkinson’s is significantly less studied, something that attracted him to the field.

“This is an understudied area, and I saw an opportunity to explore something new,” he said. “Alzheimer’s has dominated the field of neurodegeneration research, but Parkinson’s deserves the same attention. This project is a way to contribute to that.”

A key aspect of Dr. Penney’s research is the use of human stem cells that he transforms into brain cells and makes mutations that cause disease in humans. Traditionally, mouse models would be used for such experiments; however, researchers have found that findings from mouse studies often do not translate well to human treatments. 

“With stem cell models, we can study human cells directly,” said Dr. Penney. “That’s crucial for making discoveries that will actually apply to patients.”

While the project is in its early stages, Dr. Penney hopes the research will eventually identify potential targets for new Parkinson’s therapies. 

“This is the first step in understanding how things are happening on a cell level,” he said. “If we can do that, then maybe down the road we can figure out how to find a cure.”

As one of the first researchers in Canada to study this specific mutation, Dr. Penney is excited to be at this cross section of stem cell biology, genetics, and neurodegeneration. His work represents not only a significant academic achievement but also a hopeful step toward unraveling the mysteries of Parkinson’s disease.