Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common movement disorders and is characterized by age-dependent dysfunction and degeneration of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of PD has progressed with neurotoxin-induced PD model animals. Moreover, recent advances in human molecular genetics have led to the identification of several familial PD genes, including α-synuclein, parkin, PINK1, DJ-1, LRRK2, and ATP13A2. Analyses of model animals in which mutations of these PD genes are introduced promise to shed lights on the pathogenic mechanism underlying idiopathic PD as well as familial PD.

We particularly take an interest in manuscripts that report the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, therapeutic challenges using model animals, development of new screening methods, and generation of new PD models. High-quality research articles related to the topic and reviews to summarize the most recent progresses are welcome. Moreover, papers dealing with new methods to detect degeneration of dopaminergic neurons as well as other cells would be of great interest. Main topics include, but are not limited to:

• PD studies using vertebrate modelsn
• PD studies using nonvertebrate models
• PD studies using other organisms
• Drug screening using PD model organisms
• Development of therapeutic strategies using PD model organisms
• Development of experimental techniques

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: