Parkinson's Disease Society Gives Boost To Research That Will Make A Difference To Everyday Lives, UK

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease
Article Date: 10 Mar 2006 - 3:00 PDT

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The Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) has introduced 'fast track' project grants in a bid to boost research into improving the everyday lives of people with Parkinson's. The PDS hopes that this new initiative will encourage physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses and practitioners in complementary therapies to conduct research that may lead to a better quality of life for people with Parkinson's. The PDS is happy to help people complete their applications and recipients of the grants will receive advice on setting up and conducting their research.

The 'fast track' grants have been introduced specifically to fund:

* Research into practical improvements for the lives of people with Parkinson's and their carers

* Research examining the progression and delivery of healthcare to people with Parkinson's

* Pilot projects, which may lead to a subsequent application for a full project grant or fellowship to the PDS

These 'fast-track grants' are awarded on an ad hoc basis and are up to a maximum value of £10,000.

Kieran Breen, Director of Research at the Parkinson's Disease Society said: "One of our main priorities as a Society is to improve the everyday lives of people with Parkinson's and key to this is people-centred research. We need to build up a better picture of what helps people with Parkinson's, both physically and emotionally, in order to help bring improvements to a greater number of people. We know that some people with Parkinson's have found therapies and activities such as acupuncture, yoga, body massage, conductive education as well as other more traditional therapies such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy to be beneficial. What we need now is for these activities and therapies to be examined and explored in a more controlled environment, to give us the evidence we need to make a stronger and more objective case for their more widespread use."

"We hope that a number of therapists and people from allied health professions will be inspired to apply for our fast-track grants, undertake some research and help to establish what can make a real difference for people with Parkinson's. We understand that people new to research may find it daunting, but it needn't be. We will give people the support and encouragement they need, and will 'buddy' recipients of fast-track grants with more experienced researchers who will help them to put adequate control techniques in place and advise them on any other aspects of the research, such as patient selection."

In addition to applications for fast-track grants, the Parkinson's Disease Society is looking for applications for Project Grants to fund more in depth applied research over a longer period.

1. There are 120,000 people in the UK who have Parkinson's and 10,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year. The Parkinson's Disease Society is the UK's leading authority on all aspects of the condition. The charity campaigns for a better quality of life for people with Parkinson's. The PDS provides field staff, local information and maintains just under 300 branches. The PDS spends £3.4 million each year on a wide range of vital medicine and welfare research projects and campaigns for specialist nurses.

The Parkinson's Disease Society fast track grants are awarded throughout the year and the maximum amount of funding that can be applied for is £10,000.

2. Fast track funding is provided for a period of 12 months.

3. Project grant applications have two closing dates each year - 13th April 2006 and 8th September 2006.

4. Applications are invited for project grants of up to 3 years.

5. Project grants are tenable only at a United Kingdom university, NHS trust, statutory social care organisation or other research institution. All principle applicants should hold employment contracts that extend beyond the period of the grant. The duration of a grant is usually two to three years.

6. Applications for fast track grants and project grants must be made on the Society's application form. Copies of these forms, and the accompanying guidance notes, are available from the PDS website and from the PDS research department: research@parkinsons.org.uk

http://www.parkinsons.org.uk

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