Sam Boroumand, a junior in the Pharmacology-Toxicology undergraduate program, has been awarded a 2017 Parkinson’s Foundation (PF) – American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Summer Student Fellowship and will conduct his research in the laboratory of Robert Thorne, assistant professor in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, and Boroumand’s mentor.

Boroumand’s project entitled “Proof-of-concept study for the development of non-invasive immunotherapy for Parkinson’s disease: intranasal targeting of immunoglobulin G antibodies to the central nervous system (CNS)” was selected among many applications PF and APDA received and was reviewed by a joint grant review committee, comprised of scientists from PF and APDA scientific advisory boards, as well as members of the Parkinson’s community.

Boroumand will receive a monetary stipend to support his research plan. In addition, he will have the opportunity to attend a future Parkinson’s disease related meeting and present data from his Summer Fellowship project.

Earlier this month Boroumand was named a UW-Madison 2017 Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship Awardee. The Hilldale fellowship will allow Boroumand to continue his work with the Thorne lab during the 2017-18 academic year. In addition to guidance from Thorne, Boroumand is mentored and assisted in his work by 5th year Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD student Niyanta Kumar. Kumar helped Boroumand develop and prepare applications for both awards.

Thorne’s research interests include mechanisms and strategies for the central nervous system delivery and distribution of biologics (peptides, proteins, siRNA, nanoparticles, and viral gene therapy vectors). In addition, focus on antibody-based drugs and adeno-associated virus vectors for gene therapy; intraparenchymal, intrathecal and intranasal routes of administration.