Research
Parkinson's
Victoria supports a range of basic and clinical research
to improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson'
s. We also advocate via state, national and international
forums for increased support for Parkinson' s research.
We welcome your financial support for Parkinson's research.
Your tax deductible donation is welcome. You can also obtain
details on how you can make a bequest. Through donations
and bequests supporters can help fund valuable research
projects.
Research
aids in learning more about the mysteries of Parkinson’s
and the way it impacts upon all aspects of life. Research
also assists in developing new treatments – and, we
anticipate, will result in a cure being discovered.
Parkinson’s Victoria plays a very important role in
funding and supporting research into Parkinson’s.
Our funded research seeks not only to find a cure for the
condition, but also supports programs and studies with a
view to assisting people to live with Parkinson’s,
enhancing quality of life and independence.
Parkinson's
Victoria has financially supported or partnered with the
following research institutions in recent years:
- Monash
Institute of Neurological Diseases
- Brain
Bank Victoria
- Swinburne
University
- Melbourne
University
- Deakin
University
- Michael
J Fox Foundation
- Howard
Florey Institute
In addition, the Parkinson’s and wider community can
play a vital role directly supporting research by participating
in various studies. Research into Parkinson’s is ongoing
and there are a number of projects currently taking place
throughout Australia and internationally, varying in their
scope, area of interest and level of participant involvement.
Participating in Parkinson’s research is a unique
way to assist further understanding of this neurological
condition, and ultimately to improve the quality of life
for those who are living with Parkinson’s, perhaps
even assisting to find a cure. People with Parkinson’s,
and also without Parkinson’s, can participate in Parkinson’s-related
research projects.
Would
you like to paricipate in a research project?
Visit
the
Participate
in Research page to find out more about current
projects.
Stem
Cells
Curious
about stem cell treatments?
The
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has
recently launched a new website 'A closer look at Stem Cell
treatments' which will provide consumers with expert knowledge
about considerations to make when considering stem cell
treatments. The website provides educational resources to
help understand stem cell research and it addresses frequently
asked questions. A key feature of the website is to look
at online claims by clinics who promote stem cell treatments
so that potential patients can make a better informed assessment
of these treatments.
For
more information visit
www.closerlookatstemcells.org
The
International Society for Stem Cell Research is an independent,
nonprofit organisation established to promote and foster
the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas
relating to stem cells, to encourage the general field of
research involving stem cells and to promote professional
and public education in all areas of stem cell research
and application.
The
Australian Stem Cell Centre has prepared a media release
which you can download
International
Stem Cell Society to Provide Guidance on Unproven Stem Cell
Treatments (June 2010)
The
CSIRO is hosting a free public lecture
on stem cell research, titled 'Stem Cell Therapies:
Now and in the Future'
There
has been huge interest in the area of stem cell research
and our three expert speakers will present information on
what is happening in their research areas now and where
they see potential applications of this research in the
future.
They
will also form a panel discussion to answer questions from
the public
Date:
Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Time:
1:00 - 2:30pm
Venue:
Bio21 Institute, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC
Speakers:
Professor
Andrew Elefanty MB BS PhD FRACP
Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Laboratory,
Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories
Dr
Ngaire Elwood PhD
Director of the BMDI Cord Blood Bank and
Head, Cord Blood Stem Cell Research Program
at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Associate
Professor David Haylock PhD
Research Leader CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies
Visit:
http://www.csiro.au/events/Stem-Cell-Lecture.html
to register your attendance
Participate
in research
There
are many research studies taking place at the moment which
are looking for participants. Participating in research
is a wonderful and often enjoyable way in which the Parkinson's
community can make a positive difference.
Visit
the
Research
> Participate in Research section of this website
to learn more about the many other research projects which
are calling for participants.
Parkinson's
Victoria supported research projects
Swinburne University
Professor Susan Moore, supported by Parkinson's Victoria
and Swinburne Alumni, has published research on public attitudes
on Parkinson's. The article, published in the Journal of
Applied Psychology, can be downloaded here
Beliefs about
Parkinson's Disease
Living with Parkinson's
"Watching my father battle the social difficulties
presented by having Parkinson's for over 20 years has inspired
this project", says Louise Cooper, researcher at Swinburne
University. Reports from people with the illness indicate
that relationships with friends, work colleagues and health
providers can all make a difference as to how Parkinson's
is experienced.
However, most of the social research into Parkinson's concentrates
on relationships with wives, husbands or partners. It has
been found, for instance, that in some cases tremors can
increase when things are not going well between a husband
and wife.
Louise Cooper and Dr Simon Knowles at Swinburne University
are currently investigating the extent to which different
types of relationships might influence the experience of
the illness.
What
role do friends play?
In the 21st century is it possible that the Internet might
be able to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson's?
How influential are support groups?
Updates on this research project will be published here
when they become available.
Deakin University
As part of a collaborative research project between Deakin
University and Parkinson’s Victoria, Australian Huntington's
Disease Association (Vic) Ltd, Motor Neurone Disease Association,
and the MS Society of Victoria, Professor Marita McCabe
and Dr. Lucy Firth and the above organisations are undertaking
a research project to examine the impact of the financial
costs of chronic neurological illness on the quality of
life of people with these illnesses and their families.
Deakin University will examine changes to employment and
income, and direct and indirect costs incurred due to these
illnesses. The study is currently in phase one, which involves
interviewing families and Health Professionals.
Michael J Fox Foundation
As part of our commitment to research we became the first
international co-funder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation's
'Community Fast Track ' initiative. Under this program,
researchers are invited to submit their best ideas for research
relevant to the cure, cause, prevention or improved treatment
of Parkinson's and its complications through an abbreviated
application process.
This initiative is designed to stimulate novel, innovative
and/or high-impact approaches to the field of Parkinson's
and fill funding gaps missed by more conventional funding
sources. In addition to its primary goals, the program has
been successful in attracting new investigators to the field
of Parkinson's.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is
dedicated to the fastest possible end to Parkinson's and
to date has funded nearly $35 million in research with another
$10-15 million more to be spent by the end of this year.
Parkinson's Victoria is proud to support such a vigorous
effort to find a cure. For more information, visit www.michaeljfox.org

Melbourne University
Researchers
from The University of Melbourne, Southern Health and Monash
University have won a major international research grant
to discover more about how to prevent falls and improve
mobility in people with Parkinson's disease. Led by Professor
Meg Morris from The School of Physiotherapy at The University
of Melbourne and Kingston Centre and with Professor Robert
Iansek, Dr Frances Huxham, Dr Jennifer McGinley, Dr Anna
Murphy, Dr Hylton Menz and Ms Jennifer Watts, the study
will evaluate the effects of different falls prevention
and mobility enhancement strategies. As well as measuring
falls and quality of life, the researchers will conduct
an economic analysis of the costs associated with falls.
Parkinson's disease affects more than 80,000 Australians
and more than 2 million people in the world. Over 50% of
community dwelling people with Parkinson's disease fall
and many suffer serious fractures and injuries. Professor
Morris' team have specialised in Parkinson's for the last
10 years and have published more than 150 articles on how
to improve walking, movement and balance.
Data
will be collected at Kingston Centre and Elsternwick Private
Hospitals. The results will immediately be used by clinicians
at Kingston, Elsternwick and throughout the world, to improve
the lives of people with this debilitating neurological
condition. Enquiries to Professor Morris m.morris@unimelb.edu.au