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BREAKING NEWS!
10 February 2010

We are pleased to announce The AADC Research Trust has agreed to vital funding for a Research Project in Taiwan entitled: ‘To generate a conditional knockout mouse of AADC deficiency'

The aim of the study is: In order to investigate the developmental changes of brain in AADC deficiency, and find out better treatments, a suitable animal model of AADC deficiency is mandatory. However, although different kinds of animal models of dopamine deficiency had been created (Chen et al., 2003), there is no animal model of AADC deficiency being generated. With elevated DOPA level in AADC deficiency, the pathogenic mechanisms of psychomotor retardation in AADC deficiency should be different from those with tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency, which already had animal models (Chen et al., 2003). Because AADC knockout mouse may be lethal, a conditional knockout mouse of AADC deficiency may be more suitable for future study.

Relevance to AADC research and patients with AADC deficiency: In the present study, we want to generate one kind of mice with conditional knockout of AADC in the brain to see the effect of AADC deficiency on neuronal development.
Principal investigators:Wang-Tso Lee, MD, PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Total cost of the project = $26,500

Lisa Flint
Managing Director