Funding now available for innovative research proposals

7 January 2010

2010 is a year of innovation for the Parkinson's Disease Society. This year our innovation grants scheme will increase funding opportunities for researchers to 5 times a year, with the first deadline for applications on Friday 29 January.

Innovation Grants – pioneering research

We are committed to finding better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's.

Our innovation grants provide up to £35,000 for groundbreaking projects where current knowledge is lacking, and that promise to advance understanding or treatment of Parkinson's.

Under this scheme we prioritise research that tackles major scientific or technical hurdles in the field of Parkinson's.

This type of 'high-risk, high-reward' research has the potential to open new avenues towards a cure for Parkinson's.

We awarded the first innovation grant, worth £7,760, in 2005. Since then the scheme has continued to grow with 10 new grants awarded last year totalling over £300,000.

So far we have supported 48 innovation grants worth over £700,000.

Building momentum towards a cure

Innovation Grants also aim to speed up Parkinson's research as funding decisions are made more rapidly and projects complete within 12 months.

Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research and Development, comments:

"Boosting our Innovation Grants Scheme from 2 calls for applications in 2009 to 5 in 2010 will mean greater opportunity for scientists to pursue new and innovative ideas.

"This will help to accelerate research and build momentum towards a cure."

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