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Jeffrey H Kordower

Sep 8, 2026

1:25
And if we could travel back to a few decades ago, what did researchers know and why were animal models considered important for the study of Parkinson's? So Jeff, maybe you can go first.
1:38
So there are a number of reasons why we need animal models.
1:41
First is if we're going to develop new therapies, we need to make sure that they're safe and effective and well tolerated.
1:48
And we can do those studies in animal models.
1:51
What we initially thought was that Parkinson's disease was just a dopamine disease, a nigrostriatal degeneration disease.
1:59
And so the models that were developed were six hydroxy dopamine lesions in rodents.
2:06
And eventually, once the discovery of MPTP in non-human primates, MPTP became the model.
7:04
So how should we think about what is the best model? Which model should the field use? Is there even such a thing? Should the field use one model or should the field use multiple models?

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