Parkinson's UK College of Experts
The College of Experts makes recommendations for funding for Parkinson's UK's project grant, non-drug approaches and fellowship schemes.
The College of Experts is formed of scientific experts from all areas of Parkinson’s research and additional areas of scientific technical expertise.
The College of Experts makes recommendations for funding for all stages of the project grants review process, non-drug approaches grants, and fellowship schemes.
The College of Experts has to follow a strict code of conduct.
For more information about the role of our College of Experts members, read the College of Experts terms of reference.
The current Chair of the College of Experts is Professor Janine Kirby who is based at the University of Sheffield. You can find out more about Professor Janine Kirby here.
"I am thrilled to have been appointed as Chair of the Parkinson's UK College of Experts project grant assessment panel and I am very much looking forward to working with the College of Experts, particularly with those affected by Parkinson’s and who have lived experience of Parkinson’s. I am impressed by how this is embedded into Parkinson's UK and hope that the funding decisions made together will take us closer to slowing down or stopping the progression of the condition."
The College of Experts panel meetings for 2020 - 2024 were chaired by Professor Richard Reynolds from Imperial College London.
Review timelines are shared with College of Expert members 4 months in advance to help plan their time and commitments.
To express an interest in joining our College of Experts and request an application form, please email the research grants team [email protected]
We are looking for scientific experts from all areas of Parkinson’s research to expand the membership of our College of Experts. This includes clinicians and lab-based researchers, as well as experts who develop devices and digital tools.
At the moment we are particularly looking for researchers with expertise in (this is not an exhaustive list):
- advanced microscopy techniques
- AI / machine learning
- alpha-synuclein aggregation
- autophagy / neuronal death
- biomarkers (including early stage and non invasive)
- clinical trials
- cohort studies
- compound screening
- deep brain stimulation (DBS) / transcranial stimulation
- drosophila models
- E3 ubiquitin ligases
- glucocerebrosidase (GBA) / lipid metabolism
- gut microbiome
- GWAS / risk profiling
- iPSC techniques / brain organoids
- LRRK2 and Rab proteins
- lysosomal dysfunction
- mitochondrial function
- multiomics
- neuroinflammation
- neuropathology
- neuroprotective / stem cell therapy
- non-invasive stimulation
- next generation or single cell sequencing / spatial transcriptomics
- proteasome dysfunction
After attending their first grants assessment panel meeting, a current College of Experts scientific member let us know that:
"This is the first panel I sat on where both during the panel on the day and the written reports and evaluations in advance, people with Parkinson’s were included. This was extremely valuable throughout the review process and important to me as a reviewer and a scientist. It was so helpful, informative, and motivating. I would love it if this was the case for every panel I’m involved in".