There is a critical need to develop disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease. For many years, Parkinson’s disease has been approached as a problem of abnormal protein. The Fanning lab approaches the disease as a problem of both abnormal protein and abnormal lipids. Our team focuses on the impact of fat balance in Parkinson’s disease.  Using cell models of disease, the lab analyzed saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, identifying a candidate therapeutic target to re-balances unsaturated fat. This target has now entered human clinical trials. Moderately altering fatty acid pathways is a promising therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease.