Grand Valley researcher receives grant to study molecular biomarkers to monitor Parkinson's disease

A researcher at Grand Valley State University has received a grant to continue studying if molecular biomarkers can be used to monitor the advancement of Parkinson's disease.

Sok Kean Khoo, distinguished associate professor of molecular genomics, received a $110,000 grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Khoo joined Grand Valley's cell and molecular biology faculty one year ago, after working for 13 years at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, studying cancers and Parkinson's disease. She earned a doctoral degree in molecular genetics from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

While at Van Andel Institute, Khoo led a pilot project to identify biomarkers that could one day be used to develop a blood test for early detection of Parkinson's disease. That project was funded by a grant from the MJFF and in collaboration with Mercy Health Saint Mary's Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, University of Colorado Denver and Ume- University.

About 1 million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, an incurable and degenerative neurological disorder, with 50,000-60,000 new patients diagnosed annually. Most patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease have already entered its advanced stages.

Source: Grand Valley State University