Ta rg e t ing Par k in s o n’s Dis e as e: Dr. Mouradian Secures Two New Patents, HOPE M ore than one million people in the United States suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Worldwide, the total is estimated to be at least seven million. As life spans grow longer, this devastating disease with an average onset age of 60 will increase its toll on patients, families, and society. The case is clear for developing novel therapies, free of adverse effects, to alleviate symptoms and to slow or halt the otherwise inevitable progression of the disease. “This is my life’s work,” says M. Maral Mouradian, MD, William Dow Lovett Professor of Neurology and director, Center for Neurodegenerative and Neuroimmunologic Diseases. Dr. Mouradian’s research took a large step forward in early 2016, when she secured patents in support of two distinct projects. They will protect her right to develop and commercialize novel forms of therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. B y K a t e O ’ N e i l l • Photos by Steve Hockstein Research and Promoting Robert Wood Johnson I MEDICINE 9