Research: our impact in 2010
2010 was an exciting year for research at Parkinson's
UK.
We launched our innovative 5-year research strategy and funded
34 new research projects worth over
£4.6million.
We had a great year in 2010 but we need to do more - help us make an impact in
2011.
Our conference brought researchers together
In November we welcomed almost 200 scientists and
clinicians to our 2nd Parkinson's UK
research conference in York.
We covered every area of Parkinson's research, sharing
discoveries and discussing challenges.
Topics ranged from understanding the complex causes of
Parkinson's, through to the latest breakthroughs in cell and gene
therapies.
Parkinson's UK-funded research hit the headlines
We work hard to make sure our researchers' achievements
get noticed. In 2010 we helped their discoveries make a media
splash in the national papers, radio and on TV.
In November, Professor Riccardo Brambilla's (pictured
left) research co-funded by Parkinson's UK moved us closer to
stopping distressing side effects of current Parkinson's drugs.
We made sure Riccardo's exciting research hit the headlines.
Articles appeared in the
Mail Online,
WalesOnline, the Sun, the Daily Telegraph and a spot
on Good Morning Wales BBC radio show.
In July, Dr Richard Wade-Martins (pictured right)
spoke at at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science
conference about exciting new research exploring how we can make
and use stem cells from people with Parkinson's.
This groundbreaking work made a media splash
- including Richard discussing his research on the BBC
Radio 4 Today programme.
In
April, results from the largest trial of deep brain stimulation of its kind - co-funded
by Parkinson's UK - showed that this type of surgery can be more
effective than medication alone.
This vital research appeared on BBC News
online, ITN
online,
Mail Online,
The Independent, the
Scotsman and the
Yorkshire Post.
Almost £22million in additional funds for Parkinson's
research
In 2010 our funding and support helped researchers gain
almost £22million (£21,775,645) in extra funding for Parkinson's
research.
That means that for every £1 we invested in Parkinson's research
in 2010, our researchers gained a further £4 from other funding
sources.
Following a series of crucial meetings funded by Parkinson's UK
and organised by Dr Roger Barker (pictured right), the
European Health Commission awarded €12million for one of the
largest ever trials of cell transplantation for people with
Parkinson's.
Exciting new research at University College London Hospital will
test the drug Exenatide for people with mild to moderate
Parkinson's.
This new trial builds on a key Parkinson's UK-funded project led
by Dr Peter Whitton (pictured left) at the School of
Pharmacy (UCL).
Our largest ever research project, the £5million Monument
Discovery Award, helped establish a new world-class hub for
Parkinson's research - the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre.
In 2010 alone the centre attracted an additional £578,500 of
additional funding and brought more researchers into the field.
Our early funding of just under £110,000 to investigate the
benefits of occupational therapy for people with Parkinson's led to
a £1.6million trial funded by the Health Technology Assessment
Agency.
The new trial, called 'PD REHAB', will assess whether
occupational therapy and physiotherapy services help people with
Parkinson's cope with everyday activities, such as washing and
shopping, and if they affect their quality of life.
95 articles published based on Parkinson's UK-funded
research
One of the
best measures of scientific output and impact is by articles
published in international peer reviewed publications.
In 2010, Parkinson's UK-funded researchers shared their
findings by publishing 95 articles in peer reviewed scientific
journals.
The scientific articles included:
- 38 articles on investigating the causes of Parkinson's
- 29 articles on understanding and improving life for people with
the condition
- 24 articles on better treatments and a cure
- 5 general review/other
Full list of articles
published in 2010 (PDF, 130KB)
Help us make an impact in 2011
We made real progress in 2010 - but we still don't have a cure.
So there's much more to do and you can help us make an impact in
2011.
- If you're a researcher - tell us about what
you're doing. We can help you make the most of your research
- And if you'd like to support our work - there
are lots of ways you can get involved
in our research.
Get in touch - email us at research@parkinsons.org.uk
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