Binghamton University researchers receive $50K from SUNY for Parkinson’s, environmental work

VESTAL, N.Y. — SUNY has awarded Binghamton University researchers $50,000 apiece as they work on separate projects.

Their research efforts focus on creating a new therapy to provide relief to Parkinson’s patients and help locate abandoned oil and gas wells, the school said in a news release.

The SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund — which helps faculty inventors and scientists turn their research into market-ready technologies — awarded the funding to Binghamton University researchers Christopher Bishop and Timothy de Smet.

“The technologies that our researchers are developing have the potential to assist people in pain and to protect our environment,” Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger said. “I’m proud of the accomplishments that our faculty have made so far and am pleased that this funding will help support such important, potentially life-changing initiatives.”

Bishop and Fredric Manfredsson — an associate professor at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona — are developing a new therapy to provide relief to people with Parkinson’s disease. The therapy will help those who have a harmful side effect that occurs because of chronic drug therapy.

Their approach repurposes a drug — approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration — that was previously developed for depression to prevent the emergence of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.

“I am grateful to SUNY for this award, which will provide key funding to investigate and translate an exciting new therapy for Parkinson’s disease that could help minimize its debilitating symptoms and treatment-related side effects,” said Bishop.

De Smet and Alex Nikulin — assistant professor of geological sciences and environmental studies at Binghamton University — say they have devised a safe and efficient way to locate abandoned oil and gas wells, which present environmental hazards across the United States. Their unique system uses drones to detect magnetic anomalies in the metal casings of abandoned oil and gas wells, pinpointing their location.