A Supercomputer's Role in Curing Parkinsons

Super computing may just help find a cure for Parkinson’s, a debilitating disease that’s been in the spotlight recently thanks to actor Michael J. Fox’s efforts to be open about his experience with the disease and the work he’s done to fight for federal research dollars.

A team at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is using the Blue Gene/P supercomputer at the Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Lab to simulate how proteins can damage neurons. Their results illustrate in detail how alpha-synucleins-like structures penetrate cell membranes and create the  "pores" that can lead to the disease by killing dopamine-producing cells in the brain.

Researchleader Igor Tsigelny is collaborating with University of California at San Diego neuroscientist Eliezer Masliah to verify the findings, which were made possible by a grant of 1.2 million processor hours on the Blue Gene/P. The system is ranked as the world’s fastest computer dedicated to unclassified  research.

“Because this study needs a lot of computation, a supercomputer is absolutely necessary,” Tsigelny said. “Without supercomputing, I wouldn’t be able to make these discoveries."

About a million people reportedly suffer from Parkinson’s and about 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

As the research methods developed by SDSC scientists can simulate a number of protein-cell membrane interactions, Tsigelny is also using the approach to study other conditions, including Alzheimer’s, kidney diseases and some cancers.

Supercomputers can be super indeed, and donations of time on them may yield important cures.