A researcher’s view: Parkinson’s research and diversity

Parkinson’s is a hugely variable condition where symptoms can be very different from one person to the next, making it complex to research. We’ve come on leaps and bounds, continually building on our understanding of Parkinson’s, and progress is being made in the development of better treatments. However, what has been limited and largely missing in research to date is understanding the role of ethnicity with regard to the presentation, progression, symptom management and treatment of the condition.

You can read more about research into ethnicity and Parkinson’s and its limitations in a previous blog post.

We met with Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly a Parkinson’s researcher at a particularly exciting point in his career to hear more about how he is accelerating research to get closer to better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s. Dayne is also involved in a number of initiatives working to address inequalities in research and we wanted to find out more.

Where did your interest in Parkinson’s research come from?

I have always had an interest in science and a desire to help people. I originally started off wanting to study medicine but changed my focus at University.

There is so much we don’t know about the brain and being on the cusp of knowledge has always fascinated me. It is exciting to be contributing to a field where there is so much to find out, which will help so many people.

We heard that you have just been awarded a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship to set up your own lab group, congratulations! What will your research be focusing on?

Thank you, I’m extremely excited. I will be starting my own group at the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cardiff. Focusing on electrophysiology and exploring how brain cells talk to each other. Changes in the electrical signals between brain cells seem to play a large role in Parkinson’s and I want to find out more. I want to understand the earliest electrical changes in brain cells that lead to Parkinson’s symptoms.

I have been inspired by research groups that work in a holistic way, bringing together different expertise and approaches to focus on the ultimate and common goal of understanding more about Parkinson’s. As part of my research, I hope to study the brain activity of people with the condition to help understand and achieve this aim.

You are also driving change to make research more inclusive. What are the issues that need to be addressed in Parkinson’s research?

There has been a paucity of research to date in understanding how Parkinson’s affects and manifests in people from different ethnic backgrounds. More research is needed in this area to ensure that everyone receives the best care and treatment options as efficiently as possible.

Participants of clinical research investigating new treatments often do not represent the diversity of the population and this further feeds into healthcare inequalities. We must find out why various organisations are not reaching these diverse audiences to understand how we can fix this. It is a bit like research into Parkinson’s: it is important to understand the causes in order to target it and find the optimum way to fix the symptoms.

What initiatives are you part of that are focusing on diversity and inclusion in research?

I am part of a number of initiatives to encourage diversity in academic funding, working to address the lack of diversity in the researchers who receive the funding as well as the types of research being done. I am part of Black British Academics, a community committed to enhancing racial equity in higher education and society. 

I am also on the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce at the Physiological Society with whom I am leading a competition called Aspiring Black Physiologists. This project invites the Society members to act as passionate advocates for physiology, encouraging young Black Scientists and showing them that the way to scientific research is open to them. I am also a member of the Black in Neuro community, which celebrates Black excellence in neuroscience.

Are there any Parkinson’s research projects that are addressing inequalities that you are particularly excited about?

There is a global collaboration underway that aims to better understand the genetics of Parkinson’s with a focus on currently underrepresented populations. This is an ambitious 5-year project called the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program that is part of ongoing work through the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative. It is an exciting example of research that will help increase diversity in genetic studies, which will have a significant impact on the future of Parkinson’s care and treatments.

Many thanks to Dayne for chatting with us. We look forward to following his research and working with him in the future.