Tracking Parkinson's study launched in Northern Ireland today
Friday 20 April 2012
At a special event at Queen's University Belfast today, Northern
Ireland announced its involvement in our new Tracking Parkinson's study.
Tracking Parkinson's is a major new research project and we are very excited to be involved right at the beginning.
Dr Seamus Kearney, Belfast City Hospital
Tracking Parkinson's is the world's largest ever in-depth
study into Parkinson's, launched on Monday, the first day
of Parkinson's Awareness Week.
Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride,
has welcomed the study and highlighted Parkinson's Awareness
Week.
He has also backed the significant contribution that Parkinson's
UK has made to the lives of people with Parkinson's in Northern
Ireland.
Tracking Parkinson's
Dr Kieran Breen, our director of research and
innovation, was at the research event today at Queen's
University Belfast and announced Northern Ireland's involvement in
Tracking Parkinson's.
We're investing over £1.6million into the research study to
unlock further secrets about Parkinson's and boost the chances of
finding a cure.
More about Tracking Parkinson's
and how to get involved
Welcoming this new 5-year study, Northern Ireland's Chief
Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said:
"At present in Northern Ireland there are approximately 3,500
people or one in 500 living with the progressive neurological
condition Parkinson's.
"It is a debilitating disease that not only impacts on the life
of the sufferer but on the lives of their families, friends and
carers.
"This study presents an opportunity to garner information that
may help researchers develop treatment to alleviate symptoms
associated with the disease."
Involvement from Belfast City Hospital
If you're in Northern Ireland look out for our research director Dr Kieran Breen on UTV this evening and listen out for him on the radio.
Researchers from Belfast City Hospital were also at the
Queen's University event today to explain how they're taking part
and how they will involve people from Northern Ireland in the
groundbreaking study.
Dr Seamus Kearney from Belfast City Hospital said:
"Finding a cure for Parkinson's is what every researcher in the
field dreams about.
"Tracking Parkinson’s is a major new research project and we are
very excited to be involved right at the beginning."
The study will ultimately involve over 50 centres working across
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
35 centres have already signed up and this week we've launched
an appeal for 3,000 people with Parkinson's across the UK to take
part in the study. Over 1,100 have signed up so far this week.
If you're in Northern Ireland look out for our research director
Dr Kieran Breen on UTV this evening and listen out for him on the
radio.
Also in Parkinson's Awareness Week...
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