Construction is underway at the Fontaine Research Park for the Manning Institute of Biotechnology which is expected to open in 2026. When it opens, several research teams will relocate there including the new Harrison Center of Translational Research.
“The vision that we have for it right now is to develop a center that will accelerate both the discovery and the implementation of novel treatments to treat and also cure neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. John Lukens of the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Lukens has recently been appointed to be the first director of the new center. The vision involves employing scientists to do basic research in the same facility that works to provide care to patients. (learn more)
“So kind of going from bench in the lab to bedside and then back to bench to really optimize the treatments,” Dr. Lukens said.
Lukens has been with the UVA Department of Neuroscience since 2014.
Dr. Lukens said most treatments now are about preventing the disease from taking hold and so far there are not many mitigations that can restore a person’s acuity and memory. He said one area of research will look into using the body’s ability to use the immune system to fight it from taking hold.
“For the longest time, neuroscience was kind of siloed in terms of our thinking and pretty much thinking about the disease just as an issue of neurons,” Dr. Lukens said. “These are the cells in our brains that hold our memories but also control all of our functions. Over the last couple of decades there’s been amazing advancements in terms of technology most notably imaging and also genetic technology. We know now that there’s quite an important role… for the immune system.”
A specific goal will be to find ways to limit the deposit of neurotoxic material that underlies how Alzheimer’s strangles the brain from regular function.
“This is amyloid beta and tau tangles, but also kind of to kind of dampen down some of the inflammation that is causing some of the neuronal injuries, too,” Dr. Lukens said.
The new Harrison Center of Translational Research will be part of the larger Manning Institute for Biotechnology. Dr. Lukens said having similar groups in the same area could lead to advancing research.
“The goal here with everybody being under the same roof will be to have a real streamlined process where basic researchers, translational researchers, clinicians that will be implementing the drugs and also companies will all be in the same area getting coffee and lunch together and that’s how you really kick start and accelerate the implementation of treatments,” Dr. Lukens said.
Dr. Lukens said his own research is into a cell type in the brain called microglia which he said is in the immune system that serves to protect the brain from neurotoxins. Understanding how these cells work could help with a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. As the research continues, Dr. Lukens said he would like to see breakthroughs be turned into innovations that are created and nurtured in Charlottesville.
“A lot of times some of these findings get picked up by industry outside of Charlottesville and I’d like to see more of what’s being discovered be tested here to see it all the way through,” Dr. Lukens said.
He also said he would like to see more interaction with the public as the center becomes part of the community.
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