Parkinson's Disease
There have been and continue to be a number of trials of protein and gene therapy trials which introduce the molecules directly into brain tissue by injection or pump-driven infusion. Delivery is a very important issue here, particularly in pressure-driven infusions since the targeted volume of the putamen is surrounded by white matter which often carries the infused molecules away, not allowing them to fill the putamen where they are needed. People have conjectured such effects to be the cause of the failure of at least one trial. There is a need for developing an entire system consisting of the proper devices, of protocols, or monitoring, and of tissue before pressure driven infusions can be performed reliably and accurately for this disease.