Clinical Research Studies (in UK and PNG)

Prion diseases slowly destroy the brain, and there are no treatments that can stop them. This research programme aims to change that by developing better ways to diagnose, monitor, and eventually treat Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related human prion disorders. The problem is stark: prion diseases are rare but always fatal, and they can be transmitted between people through medical procedures or inherited genetically. Current tests often cannot detect the disease until symptoms appear, by which time significant brain damage has already occurred. The researchers will recruit patients into long-term cohort studies, develop biomarkers to track disease progression, and test experimental compounds for safety and effectiveness. For people known to carry genetic mutations that cause prion disease, the team will work out ways to predict when symptoms might begin, allowing treatments to be given at the right time. If successful, this work could transform prion disease from a swift, untreatable death sentence into a manageable condition. It would also help the NHS deliver better care through research-focused healthcare professionals. A deeper understanding of how misfolded proteins spread through the brain may also shed light on more common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which share similar mechanisms.