Parkinson’s Disease and Other Movement Disorders Group
Affiliation and Location
University of Milan
Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Contacts and References
Head of Laboratory: Dr. Alessio Di Fonzo
Mail: alessio.difonzo@policlinico.mi.it
Segreteria: elena.oriani@policlinico.mi.it
The clinical and research group for movement disorders represents a point of reference at both regional and national levels for both the treatment and research of movement disorders.
The clinical activity focuses on the diagnosis and clinical management of complex neurological pathologies, such as Parkinson’s Disease, atypical parkinsonisms (with a specific focus on Multiple System Atrophy), tremors, dystonias, tics, choreas, ataxias, and spastic paraparesis.
The group is actively engaged in translational and molecular research projects, aiming to gain deeper insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these conditions and contribute to the development of innovative therapies. A dedicated biorepository is in place for the collection of DNA samples from patients with movement disorders, utilized for advanced genetic studies. The research also encompasses in vitro functional analyses, such as studying the enzymatic activity of key proteins (including LRRK2 and GBA1) and exploring neurodegenerative processes using cellular models. These models are generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), derived from both skin biopsies and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Among the models developed are brain organoids, which allow for a more realistic study of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases within a three-dimensional environment.
The team
Contact persons
Dr. Alessio Di Fonzo (Head of Laboratory, Neurologist)
Contacts and informations
Mail: alessio.difonzo@policlinico.mi.it
Administrative Office: elena.oriani@policlinico.mi.it