Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting over 10 million people worldwide. Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects over 10 million people worldwide, with symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and gut dysfunction (e.g., constipation, affecting ~80% of patients and supporting the gut-first hypothesis).

Current therapies provide only partial relief. Levodopa remains the most effective drug, but patients face motor fluctuations, dyskinesia, and gastrointestinal side effects (e.g., nausea). These issues not only worsen physical health but also limit social interaction, reduce independence, and create psychological burdens for patients and families.

Methods of synthesizing Levodopa

Currently, chemical synthesis, plant extraction, and biosynthesis are the most common methods for synthesizing levodopa.

Table 1： Method of synthesizing levodopa

Probiotic-assisted Levodopa Therapy refers to a new therapeutic strategy that mix supplemented probiotic bacteria and L-DOPA (levodopa) to treat Parkinson’s disease. By combining live microbial intervention and traditional pharmacotherapy elements, this approach aims to enhance drug efficiency, reduce side effects, and support a more sustainable production method.

Benefit 1: align with sustainability production goals

Traditional methods of synthesizing L-DOPA involve chemical synthesis that often relies on toxic chemicals and generates harmful by‑products. In contrast, engineering probiotics to biosynthesize L-DOPA in the gut provides a more eco-friendly alternative. This aligns with global trends and sustainable pharmaceutical development. As a result, this method reduces the use of harmful chemicals and minimizes environmental impact.

Benefit 2: improve gut bacteria to help prevent and treat Parkinson’s

The gut microbiome can be improved through taking probiotics. Probiotics can fix imbalances in gut bacteria, increase the number of good bacteria to produce helpful substances like short-chain fatty acids (Markowiak-Kopeć and Śliżewska), and reduce gut damage and body inflammation, which are all relevant to early stages of Parkinson’s.

Benefit 3: Help Reduce Side Effects of Levodopa

Long-term use of Levodopa and other Parkinson’s medications often causes uncomfortable effects such as stomach issues, constipation, and drug absorption. Research shows that combining probiotics and prebiotics with these drugs can help reduce these problems. For example, a study in the Chinese Medical Journal reported that after 12 weeks of taking a mixture of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, 60 PD patients improved in both motor symptoms and digestive issues (Chinese Medical Journal). Another analysis found that patients who drank fermented milk containing probiotics and prebiotic fiber had significantly more complete bowel movements than those who took a placebo. (Tan et al.)

Figure 1 stakeholders

Based on the research background, we conducted a statistical analysis of all potential stakeholders involved, and classified them along the horizontal and vertical axes based on their relevance and influence on the research. According to the Integrated Human Practice goals, we carried out the following actions in total：

• Understand the real needs of Parkinson's patients
• Evaluate social and market acceptance of gut-based therapy
• Collect experts' feedbacks to improve our design
• Explore ethical and safety considerations
• Align our innovation with stakeholder expectations

We conducted surveys and interviews with patients, caregivers, and experts to identify unmet needs and ethical concerns. Their insights shaped our project goals and confirmed that gut symptoms are often under-recognized in care pathways.

Our Integrated Human Practices (IHP) approach ensures that scientific design, ethical reflection, and patient perspectives are connected throughout development.

Figure 2 mindmap

Our ProDopa team distributed online questionnaires to collect information from the general public. The questionnaires covered inquiries about the public's understanding of the symptoms of Parkinson's patients and their attitudes towards Parkinson's disease. A total of 329 respondents completed the questionnaire survey. Regarding age distribution, minors (under 18 years old) accounted for 45%, young and middle-aged people (aged 25 to 60) at 52%, and elderly people (over 60) at 3%.

Figure 3: “How familiar are you with Parkinson’s disease?”

Figure 4: “What symptoms do you think people with Parkinson’s disease have?”

As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, 72.64 per cent have heard of Parkinson's but know little about it. The public's understanding of Parkinson's disease is mostly limited to hand tremors and slow movement. Therefore, it is essential to widely disseminate knowledge about Parkinson's disease—including its other causes and the side effects of its treatments— to the general public.

Figure 5: “Do you know which part of the body Parkinson’s disease mainly affects?”

When it comes to gaining a deeper understanding of Parkinson's disease—an important issue as shown in Figure 5— only 23.1% of people recognized the gut as relevant to the disease. Therefore, for our new therapy, how it operates through the brain-gut axis and with the aid of probiotics, more public education is needed.

Figure 6: “What do you want to learn about Parkinson's disease?”

Figure 7: “Are you willing to help raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease or participate in related activities”

As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, 290 people want to know about the prevention knowledge. This indicates a strong public demand for such information. Therefore, we will acquire more knowledge about prevention and enhance the dissemination of this knowledge in public education activities. Moreover, the majority of people (84.8%) are willing to participate in related promotional activities, laying a solid foundation for our subsequent work.

After conducting this survey, a few conclusions can be made:

• From the questionnaire, it can be seen that most people's understanding and knowledge of Parkinson's disease are only superficial (concerning tremors and muscle control issues). The side effects of the patient's intestinal problems and the treatment methods for the brain-gut axis are poorly understood. Therefore, science popularization activities can explain the side effects and symptoms related to patients' intestines, help the public understand patients' predicaments more deeply, and offer relevant assistance.
• The general public's understanding of Parkinson's disease is insufficient, but the majority of people have a strong desire to learn about it. So we can promote awareness in areas such as prevention, treatment, causes of illness, and impacts on daily life. By combining online and offline methods, we enable the public to actively participate in the understanding and promotion of the treatment for Parkinson's disease.

The second questionnaire designed by our team was for Parkinson's patients to understand the symptoms of Parkinson's, the impact of Parkinson's on the patient, current treatments and side effects, and the patient's willingness to learn about new probiotic treatments.

A total of 72 responses were received, and the participants who completed the questionnaire were 44 females and 28 males, with the majority of the age group clustered between 41 and 60 years old.

Figure 8: “As a Parkinson's patient, do you understand the triggers of Parkinson's？”

As shown in Figure 8, 47.22% of the surveyed patients have a poor understanding of the causes of Parkinson's disease. This indicates that when providing assistance to patients and conducting public awareness campaigns, more emphasis should be placed on explaining this aspect of knowledge.

Figure 9:“After being diagnosed with Parkinson's, do you experience gastrointestinal discomfort in your daily life?” and “How often do you feel gastrointestinal discomfort?”

As shown in Figure 9, we focus on the intestinal problems of the patients; 53 experience gastrointestinal discomfort after being diagnosed with Parkinson's; out of these people, one-third of them will feel gastrointestinal discomfort at least once a month, and nearly one-third feel it once every two weeks. This can confirm the main research direction: the public’s limited knowledge of gut-related issues in Parkinson’s patients. In fact, this problem is widespread among Parkinson's patients.

Figure 10: “What is your current treatment for Parkinson's?”and “Do you think there are any side effects of your current treatments? If so, what are they?”

As shown in Figure 10, most of the patients are treated with medication, including Levodopa tablets and Placid, etc., and a small number of patients are relieved from Parkinson's by exercise and surgery. Fortunately, it can be seen that 47.22% of the patients did not experience any significant side effects. Through this survey, we have learned about the side effects of different treatments caused in individual patients. We hope to alleviate these side effects for these patients.

Figure 11: “Does being a ‘Parkinson's patient’ affect your social life?”

This question aims to understand the mental health of the patients. As shown in Figure 11, the majority of the patients are affected by the disease to varying degrees in their daily social interactions.. We hope to not only provide them with psychological counseling but also guide their negative emotions toward positive ones by offering targeted emotional support.

Figure 12: “Would you be willing to learn about the new probiotic treatment for Parkinson's, which is mainly designed to alleviate the side effects (e.g., nausea, constipation, etc.) caused by levodopa tablets? (1 = not at all, 5 = very willing to know)”

As shown in Figure 12, 65.28 percent of the surveyed patients were very willing to learn about related knowledge regarding the new probiotic therapy for Parkinson's disease. Meanwhile,11 patients each were more willing to learn and generally willing, while only 3 patients were less willing or not willing to learn at all. Therefore, most of the patients are looking forward to this new treatment.

After collecting and analyzing questionnaire 2, we can conclude the following:

• Most of the current treatments for Parkinson's disease are medication-based, and more than half of the patients experience side effects during the treatment. Since most of the patients are willing to learn about new probiotic treatments for Parkinson's, it makes sense for our research that reduce the side effects of the treatments.
• Most Parkinson's patients are able to use social media; however, the vast majority of Parkinson's patients believe that Parkinson's has an impact on their social life. Therefore, we need to pay more attention to the social lives and mental health of Parkinson's patients. To this end, we plan to consult relevant medical and psychological experts. From a more professional perspective, we will strengthen our focus on patients' psychological well-being in our public education initiatives and call on the general public to show understanding and provide support to these patients.

Figure 13

Expert background:

We interviewed Associate Professor Li Qi from the College of Life Sciences at Sichuan Normal University. Her research focuses on microbial gene editing, synthetic biology, and the application of fermentation microbes. She earned her Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and studied twice at the University of Nottingham in the UK.

Interview purpose:

The purpose of conducting this expert interview with Professor Li Qi is to evaluate the reliability, safety risks, and overall feasibility of our project and look for any advice for future development and potential obstacles to overcome by leveraging her specialized expertise in microbial genetics, genome editing, and synthetic biology. Specifically, we seek her professional assessment to validate our engineered bacteria design, examine potential biosafety concerns and mitigation strategies, and evaluate the practical viability of our sustainable production methods and clinical translation pathways, while also drawing upon her extensive experience in industrial collaborations to address critical scalability and implementation challenges. This consultation will not only enhance the scientific robustness of our project but may also open doors for future collaborative opportunities that could further strengthen our research.

Potential customers and recoveries to investors:

There are significant considerations when identifying potential customers for our final product, a probiotic-based capsule for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Based on the product’s characteristics, we identified hospitals, national health systems, and neurological departments as primary institutional customers. These stakeholders, particularly key hospital decision-makers and procurement officers in public health networks, hold both high interest and power over the product’s adoption. In our stakeholder analysis, we also found that Parkinson’s support NGOs, patient caregivers, and rehabilitation therapists could play an important advocacy role in promoting early use and trial.

During our interview, Dr. Li Qi emphasized that support from national government bodies and research institutions would be crucial to the project’s successful transition from lab to market. Thus, our strategy focuses on first approaching national-level hospitals and government healthcare programs to pilot the product. Once clinical effectiveness and safety are demonstrated, the customer base could expand internationally to other countries facing high Parkinson’s prevalence, such as Japan and Germany.

With over 10 million people globally affected by Parkinson’s disease, and an increasing prevalence due to aging populations, the demand for more effective and side-effect-free treatments is substantial. From an investor’s perspective, recovery is highly expected through early licensing deals with pharmaceutical manufacturers and government procurement contracts. Although the product is currently at the R&D stage, we position ourselves as a high-potential startup in the bio-therapeutics field. Investors specializing in biotech, as identified in our stakeholder map, would expect a visible return within 5–7 years. To meet this timeline, we plan to launch a phased commercialization roadmap while maintaining regular updates to investors on milestones such as clinical trials, regulatory approval submissions, and strategic partnerships.

For future development, based on the current probiotic capsule for Parkinson’s disease proven to be effective and safe in preclinical and early-stage clinical studies, Dr. Li Qi suggested that our team can further explore its broader physiological impact via the gut-brain axis.

Value of Probiotic Product:

During the meeting with Associate Professor Qi Li, we discovered the potential benefits of the probiotic product we are developing. According to her, probiotics could produce precursor substances of dopamine and modulate the gut-brain axis. Thereby, alleviating Parkinson’s symptoms can be available.

She highlighted that synthetic biology plays a key role in achieving this vision, allowing us to precisely program the bacteria for better biosynthesis, safety control, and environmental containment. Through rational pathway design and gene editing, the therapeutic effect of probiotics can be greatly enhanced.

Interview summary:

Through in-depth discussions with Professor Li Qi, our team received several key insights regarding our project on using engineered probiotics for the sustained release of dopamine in treating Parkinson’s disease. These insights have significantly contributed to optimizing our experimental strategies, strain selection, and safety protocols.

Firstly, Professor Li emphasized that the long-term effectiveness of probiotics depends on their ability to colonize and remain stable in the gut. This can be enhanced through natural selection or genetic engineering. He also recommended several probiotic strains with known neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bifidobacterium longum. This guidance has helped us narrow down our strain selection, thereby improving research efficiency. Additionally, we plan to select strains that are less prone to degradation to improve colonization rates. One advantage of using probiotics is their potential to avoid drug–drug interactions.

At the same time, Professor Li repeatedly stressed the importance of biosafety and environmental impact. Since engineered bacteria may be excreted and enter the natural environment, posing a risk of gene pollution, we aim to minimize such risks by designing containment strategies to reduce environmental hazards.

Furthermore, Professor Li explained that probiotics may influence dopamine regulation through the gut–brain axis. For instance, certain gut bacteria can help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and reduce dopamine degradation, thus indirectly supporting dopamine levels. This led our team to recognize that, beyond constructing dopamine synthesis pathways in engineered bacteria, we should also enhance their ability to improve the host gut environment—such as modulating the immune system and maintaining gut barrier function—to achieve a more comprehensive therapeutic effect.

Professor Li also pointed out the need to maximize the activity of therapeutic components. This can be achieved by optimizing biosynthetic pathways through impurity removal and eliminating inactive excipients, thereby improving drug absorption and reducing the burden on patients.

Overall, this interview provided valuable guidance in clarifying our research direction, refining our technical approaches, and assessing both safety and feasibility, offering significant support for the further development of our project.

Expert background and interview purpose:

John Cumbers is the founder and CEO of SynBioBeta, a global community and media platform dedicated to synthetic biology. The platform aims to advance the commercialization, innovation, and industrial development of biotechnology. As a leading advocate and thought leader in the field, he frequently speaks at scientific and industry conferences and promotes collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors through initiatives such as the annual SynBioBeta conference. The purpose of this meeting is to get advice on the commercialization and bioengineering work of our team.

Current application of synthetic biology in medical field:

To better understand the connection between synthetic biology and medical treatments, we asked Dr. Cumbers about therapy for neurological disorders and the modulation of the gut microbiome at present.

According to Dr. Cumbers, a large number of enterprises have already developed probiotic-based medicines. Dr. Cumbers provided notable examples of how synthetic biology and biotechnology are being applied in the medical field. For instance, a biotech company is currently conducting clinical trials on a stem cell therapy for early-stage Parkinson’s disease. This approach includes reprogramming a patient’s own skin cells into neuronal cells, cultivating them, and then injecting the new neurons back into the brain to restore dopamine function. According to Dr. Cumbers, a person he knows has received this treatment and shown positive signs of progress.

Feasibility of dopamine precursor delivery via medicine:

Our team came up with the idea of delivering probiotics to the intestines through the form of capsules or tablets, colonizing them in the gastrointestinal tract and releasing the precursor of dopamine sustainably. Our goal is to achieve a one-time colonization of the gut tract, which could be an effective approach for long-term treatment without frequent and repeated administration.
During the meeting, Dr. Cumbers affirmed the feasibility of delivering probiotics through capsules. A prime example he referenced is a product in the form of capsules that can decompose the alcohol consumed by the user and minimize the negative effects, including hangover symptoms, caused by alcohol.

Biosafety and Bioethical Problems:

In order to guarantee the safety and ethics of the whole development stage, we asked Dr. Cumbers about the crucial aspects when considering biosafety and bioethics.

Dr. Cumbers provided two points that we should consider in further discussions. The first aspect is environmental impacts. The accidental release of probiotics into the environment can negatively impact organisms and their habitats. The second aspect we should consider is human health. How would the probiotics interact with an individual’s microbiome? Would there be any unforeseen immune responses or toxicity? These factors should be considered carefully and tested in diverse scenarios.

Interview Summary:

It is potentially feasible to deliver probiotics in the form of capsules or tablets, with the previous probiotic products to support our idea.

Probiotic medicine provides a new solution to some diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, and its negative effects could be reduced.

Comparing to other medical treatments of Parkinson’s disease, the interaction between floras and possible side effects on individual’s microbiomes should be considered.

Figure 14

Expert Background:

Director Li Qingli, the chief physician of the Department of Psychiatry at Haicheng Kangyuan Hospital. She is a nationally certified intermediate psychotherapist with extensive experience in clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy. She has studied in neurology, child and adolescent psychology, psychological assessment and other fields, and actively participated in the exchange of international cutting-edge mental health concepts and practices. She has in-depth research and practical experience in the intersection of neuropsychiatry, especially in emotional disorders, psychological intervention and comorbid chronic diseases. As an expert interviewee for this project, Director Li provided us with profound insights into the psychological changes of Parkinson's patients and the feasibility of probiotic treatment at the spiritual level.

Mechanism of action of dopamine in Parkinson's disease and its psychiatric symptoms & the significance of psychological intervention:

During the interview, Director Li Qingli pointed out that Parkinson's disease is essentially a neurodegenerative disease and does not fall into the category of mental illness. Its diagnosis belongs to neurology. However, in long-term clinical practice, the impact of Parkinson's disease is far more than limited motor function. It also significantly affects the patient's psychological state and social function, mainly in terms of psychological level, social relations and living standards. According to Director Li's clinical experience, the mental and emotional symptoms of Parkinson's disease may appear earlier than motor symptoms. Early manifestations include abnormal emotions, cognitive impairment and nighttime mental symptoms. This change in mental state often occurs in the early and middle stages of the disease. Director Li emphasized that emotional problems such as depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson's disease are often delayed in treatment because they are not taken seriously. Therefore, in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease, the evaluation and intervention of mental and psychological symptoms should be strengthened.

As a first-line treatment for Parkinson's disease, L-DOPA has some hidden dangers in long-term use, including the switch effect, mental and emotional side effects, which aggravate the existing psychological burden. Therefore, Director Li Qingli emphasized that psychological intervention is indispensable in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and suggested improvement through communication, cognitive behavioral therapy and the integrated medical model.

In this interview, Director Li Qingli expressed great interest in the new treatment plan for Parkinson's disease based on probiotics and affirmed its potential clinical value.

Strengths of probiotics compared with traditional L-DOPA therapies:

She pointed out in the interview that, compared with traditional L-DOPA therapies, probiotic drugs have many potential advantages.

First, probiotic therapy can effectively address the shortcomings of L-DOPA, which include its short half-life and rapid metabolism, often resulting in reduced drug efficacy, or a "switch effect". Secondly, probiotics can colonize in the intestine, regulate intestinal flora, and promote intestinal health, which is of cutting-edge significance. For some patients who experience long-term medication fatigue and reject injections or strong drug reactions, the appearance of probiotic therapy may be more compliant and adherent, improving patients' daily medication experience. Most importantly, probiotic therapy can replace the original large-dose traditional L-DOPA therapy and avoid the mental side effects such as hallucinations and delusions caused by traditional therapy.

Ethical Considerations and Patient Communication:

During our meeting with Dr. Li, we asked for her insights on potential ethical issues we might encounter, as well as key points to consider when explaining the mechanism of our medication to patients.

According to Dr. Li, while many patients can accept the idea of live probiotics after proper explanation, some individuals may feel uneasy or skeptical about the probiotic therapy due to doubts about the stability and concerns about potential side effects of the medicine. Ethical concerns arise particularly when it comes to patients with pre-existing mental health conditions, since the treatment could trigger fear or misunderstanding.

She also emphasized the significance of frequent communication and clear explanation of the therapy. By unfolding the mechanism of the medicine in a clear manner, the patient could better understand their therapy, eliminating the unease and doubts about the treatment. Also, presenting potential side effects of the probiotic medicine is crucial as well, as it could lower the risk of disappointment when the medicine does not perform as expected. It is important to guarantee the patient is aware of both the merits and limitations of the treatment.

The Future of Probiotic Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease:

Dr. Li believes that the development of probiotic-based therapies holds great promise. If probiotics can successfully colonize the gut and continuously release dopamine, patients may experience fewer “on-off phenomenon” episodes, and the more stable absorption could also contribute to better emotional regulation, such as reduced anxiety. Compared to traditional medications, this therapy may offer certain advantages. Dr. Li stated that if the drug proves effective, stable, and ethically compliant, she would be very willing to recommend it to patients. She also believes that patients with emotional instability may be more open to this form of treatment. Additionally, probiotics may have potential benefits for mood disorders like depression and anxiety. However, psychological barriers may arise during the promotion of such drugs. Some Parkinson’s patients, particularly the elderly, are prone to anxiety and may feel uneasy about “live bacteria” therapies, worrying that bacteria will remain in their bodies or fearing a loss of control. Patients with obsessive or paranoid tendencies may be especially resistant. Therefore, Dr. Li suggests that clear communication and psychological support are essential to help patients accept the treatment voluntarily. She also emphasized the importance of gaining physicians’ trust. Before clinical use, solid data and safety assessments are critical. Through this interview, Dr. Li expressed strong recognition and high expectations for probiotic therapies for Parkinson’s disease. It reminded us that beyond efficacy, patient acceptance and effective science communication are equally important in advancing this treatment.

Team Reflection and Project Impact:

From Dr. Li’s insights, we realized that Parkinson’s disease management must integrate both neurological and psychological dimensions. Her emphasis on early recognition of emotional symptoms encouraged us to strengthen the psychological angle in our project design and outreach. The concerns she raised about patient anxiety and ethical acceptance highlighted the importance of transparent communication and expectation management, which we incorporated into our science communication plan. Most importantly, her support for probiotics as a promising complement to traditional L-DOPA reinforced our confidence in pursuing a patient-centered, safe, and ethically responsible innovation pathway.

Figure 15

Expert background

Gao Yihan is the head nurse of the Neurology ICU at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Shenyang Medical College and a master’s degree from Dalian Medical University. She has many years of experience caring for patients with brain and nerve diseases, especially those who need long-term treatment and emotional support.

The purposes of the interview

We invited Nurse Gao to be interviewed by us in order to understand the following: 1. the clinical manifestations of Parkinson's, 2. whether Parkinson's will bring social impact to the patients, 3. if there are people with Parkinson's around us, what we should focus on, 4. what efforts we should make to make the life of Parkinson's patients easier, 5. the current treatments for Parkinson's disease and the side effects.

The key insights we gained:

• The social life of patients

Patients primarily obtain real-time information through patient meetings held within the department, where they share their life experiences or treatment experiences. The most commonly used social media platform among patients is WeChat, and hospital departments conduct science popularization activities for patients. For patients under the age of sixty, they can independently use social media software, while for patients over sixty, they require assistance from family members or caregivers to use this software.

• Difficulties encountered by patients in daily life and corresponding solutions

Difficulties: Primarily include tying shoelaces and fastening buttons, hand tremors causing difficulty in handling small items, and challenges in standing up or sitting down.

Solutions:

- Provide slip-resistant shoes without laces.

- Prepare soft, loose cotton clothing to accommodate the patients overactive sweat glands.

- Equip the patient with a toothbrush featuring a thick handle to improve grip.

- Install a raised toilet seat to assist with standing up and sitting down.

- Attach grab bars on both sides of the toilet to aid in standing and sitting.

- Install bed rails on both sides of the bed to prevent falls when the patient experiences body stiffness.

• Paying attention to the needs of Parkinson patients:

Patients often forget to take their medication due to the side effects of the drugs causing confusion, so family members need to remind them to take their medicine on time. Emotionally, patients are prone to anxiety and depression, as well as sleep deprivation, requiring companionship and psychological support from their families. Given the prolonged course of Parkinson disease, family members may gradually develop negative emotions and impatience toward the patients condition over time.

• Treatment methods

The most clinically effective treatment method is oral medication, while rehabilitation exercise training can also provide some assistance, such as limb exercises that can improve their respiratory condition. When patients experience on-off phenomena and are unable to move during the off periods, healthcare homo sapiens can perform massages for the patients, which may help remission their limb symptoms.

Conclusion

Through our interview with Nurse Gao Yihan, we gained valuable insight into the real-life challenges faced by Parkinson’s patients. From medicine side effects and emotional problems to small daily challenges, Nurse Gao showed us that Parkinson’s patients need not only medical treatment, but also help in everyday life. We also learned practical solutions and the need for lasting family involvement, reminding us that treating Parkinson’s is far more beyond medication. We realized patients’ needs extend beyond medication, prompting us to integrate mental health support into our outreach, enhancing our project’s social impact.

Figure 16

Expert Background

Mr. Ling Zi, the CEO of Vermont Biotech Co., Ltd., based in Beijing. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree from Stanford University in the United States. With over a decade of overseas academic and professional experience, he has previously worked at Oracle, Datalogix, and two tech startups in the U.S., serving in roles such as big data engineer and product/project manager. In 2018, inspired by the rapid rise of functional food innovations in the U.S., he returned to China and founded the probiotic yogurt brand “1000亿PLUS,” aiming to build China’s own version of Chobani. As an invited expert for this interview, Mr. Ling provided in-depth insights into the commercialization of bio-based functional products, market education strategies, and the challenges and opportunities facing emerging biotech startups.

Functional Food Market & Consumer Acceptance in China

Mr. Ling said, Chinese consumers have shown increasing interest in health-related products, especially after the pandemic. Ingredients such as probiotics and melatonin are already widely accepted in metropolitan areas, where consumers are more health-aware, information-rich, and open to functional concepts. However, in less developed regions, the penetration of such products remains low, primarily due to limited access to information and a higher level of skepticism toward unfamiliar technologies. Therefore, successful market entry relies on both regional targeting and science communication.

Mr. Ling emphasized that while the overall market is growing, it is not homogeneous. Brands that succeed tend to understand the psychographic and demographic segmentation of their audience. Acceptance of novel bio-based treatments, such as probiotic-based therapies, will depend heavily on whether consumers can relate to the mechanism and perceive real-life value, rather than just scientific novelty.

From Lab to Market – Practical Challenges & Strategic Solutions

During the interview, Mr. Ling outlined three major obstacles in the commercialization of biotechnology-based treatments:

• Immature laboratory technologies that are not ready for industrial-scale production;
• Unclear product-market fit, where the technology lacks a defined application or user scenario;
• Limited marketing capability to effectively translate scientific value into consumer or investor understanding.

He suggested adopting a reverse-design approach—starting from the needs of a specific user group (e.g., B2B clients like pharma companies, or B2C end users like patients or caregivers), and then building the product backward from that. Pilot collaborations, conference showcases, and clinical proof-of-concept studies are key to establishing early credibility.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of targeted messaging depending on the audience: for researchers, focus on technical mechanisms; for patients, explain benefits in relatable language; for investors, clarify the problem being solved and market potential.

Ethical Concerns, Patient Communication & Future Potential

Mr. Ling expressed a strong interest in our project’s probiotic-based L-DOPA capsule. He acknowledged its potential to reduce “on-off” fluctuations in Parkinson’s treatment and viewed its intestinal-based, sustained-release mechanism as both innovative and patient-friendly.

However, he also warned of psychological and ethical challenges in patient communication. Many Parkinson’s patients—especially older individuals—may feel uncomfortable with the idea of live bacteria colonizing their gut to produce medicine. Those with anxiety, obsessive tendencies, or limited scientific literacy may resist the product, fearing instability or loss of control.

To address these concerns, he emphasized the importance of:

• Clear, empathetic explanation of how the therapy works;
• Disclosure of both benefits and side effects to avoid unrealistic expectations;
• Use of trusted channels, such as doctors, nutritionists, or pharmacists, to promote the product credibly.

Mr. Ling also recommended that before any clinical use, robust safety data and transparent results should be prepared for both medical professionals and the general public. If proven safe and effective, he believes that such a product could reshape the way Parkinson’s is managed, especially for patients who suffer from emotional comorbidities like depression and anxiety. He concluded by encouraging our team to stay committed to patient-centered design, science-backed communication, and realistic pathways to regulatory approval and commercialization.

Team Reflection and Project Impact

This interview reminded us that successful commercialization goes beyond scientific novelty. Mr. Ling’s advice on reverse-design prompted us to redesign our survey and outreach materials from the perspective of patients and caregivers rather than starting only from technical feasibility. His emphasis on market segmentation and regional differences also influenced our data collection plan, where we now consider stratified sampling between metropolitan and non-metropolitan groups. Furthermore, the challenges he outlined—technology maturity, product-market fit, and science communication—helped us critically assess our own project stage. To address them, we plan to strengthen safety validation, create patient-friendly communication tools, and engage trusted medical professionals in future outreach.

Expert interviews shaped our project iteratively. Gao Yihan’s insights on patients’ daily struggles prompted us to engineer probiotics for constipation relief, optimizing L-DOPA delivery. Li Qingli’s psychiatric perspective inspired psychological support in our outreach, while Ling Zi’s commercialization advice guided our hospital pilot strategy. These inputs ensured our project aligns with environmental, social, and ethical values. Moving forward, we plan to collaborate with more Parkinson’s organizations and refine our design based on broader stakeholder feedback, ensuring scalability and impact.