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"This is exactly the sort of opportunity we must explore"

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development

 

 

The discovery that started it all

 

Professor Peter Jenner

In an exciting research project, Professor Peter Jenner and his team at King's College London have recently discovered a naturally occuring protective protein in dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Osteopontin (OPN) can interfere with the destruction of nerve cells that occurs in Parkinson's disease. This finding may mean that we can one day treat the causes of Parkinson's rather than just the symptoms.

 

A natural way to fight Parkinson's

 

Professor Jenner's exciting research may be able to move us closer to an understanding of Parkinson’s, but we don't yet know whether a deficiency of OPN plays a major role in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

 

Woman supporting a person with Parkinson's

The great thing about OPN is that it empowers the brain to heal itself, avoiding the debilitating side effects that come from synthetic drugs. Ultimately with a better understanding of OPN, we may be able to intervene at an earlier stage of nerve cell death and stop people developing Parkinson's.

 

This is just one of the many long-term projects currently funded by the PDS, dedicated to stopping the progression. And that's why we are launching the next step - a new initiative to support our ongoing research programme.

 

By taking the next step with us, you can help us to be prepared for the exciting opportunities ahead.

A notebook 

Your commitment to a monthly gift of £5 or an annual donation of £60 will give us the financial security to channel even more funds into research, and help make a vital difference to the lives of people with Parkinson's. 

 

Please help us take the next step by completing

the Direct Debit form or by calling

01753 688687

 

 

Download our Direct Debit form in PDF (2MB)

 

 

Group of people sitting togetherFor 39 years the PDS has been driving research forward

 

In 2003 we were investing £1.7million in top class research, and by 2007 this had grown to £4.2million. With your help we want to increase this even further to ensure that we take advantage of every opportunity.

 

 

Find out more on current research funded by the PDS

 

Read more on our research achievements

 

 

The PDS is a membership organisation but supports all people with Parkinson's.

 

You can find out more about our membership scheme and benefits in our Join Us pages