Our research impact
For more than 50 years, we’ve been at the cutting edge of Parkinson’s research. Funding life-changing research for people with Parkinson’s in the UK, and beyond. But we won't stop there. Together, we can find better treatments and one day a cure.
We deliver better treatments and care
Our research has led to changes in treatments and care that have improved life for people with Parkinson’s. Here’s how:
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the main type of surgery used to treat Parkinson’s and can give people better control of their symptoms when drugs become less effective. Findings from a major study we supported have helped make this life-changing therapy available to people with Parkinson's across the UK.
Since the 1970s we’ve funded vital studies to develop and test new drugs for Parkinson’s. This has helped deliver some of the drugs used to manage the condition today. We launched the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech in 2017 to accelerate progress and now have a range of exciting new drug treatments in the pipeline.
There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s. Issues with things like sleep, mood, constipation and pain can be debilitating. Our research has transformed our understanding of non-motor symptoms and their impact. It has also led to the development of the non-motor symptoms questionnaire to help spot these issues so they can be treated.
Read more about non-motor symptoms and download the questionnaire
Improving diagnostics
We supported crucial research that led to the international guidance used today for diagnosing Parkinson’s and to the development of groundbreaking brain scanning techniques. These tools help specialists get it right more often but diagnosis is still a major challenge. That’s why we’re still working to develop better tests to identify the condition earlier and more accurately.
We fund revolutionary research
We’ve been pushing the boundaries of Parkinson’s research for 50 years, and our discoveries have built momentum.
The answers to Parkinson’s lie in the brain, so studying brain tissue from people with and without the condition is vital. The Parkinson's UK Brain Bank is a unique resource that provides researchers across the world with this precious tissue. And our new Landmark project will use the very latest techniques to make discoveries to unlock new treatments.
We still don’t fully understand how and why Parkinson’s develops. Until we do, a cure may remain out of reach. Our research has uncovered clues about why brain cells die, including key changes in genes and inside dying cells. These discoveries are powering the development of new treatments that have the potential to lead us towards a cure.
We’re here to develop game-changing new treatments and that means backing bold new areas of research. We’ve invested millions in stem cell research to drive forward their potential to repair the brain. We’ve also pioneered research into neurotrophic factors that could help damaged brain cells to recover and regrow.
Read our blog on stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s - are we getting closer?
We understand the importance of addressing the day-to-day challenges of living with Parkinson’s. Our non-drug approaches grants drive forward vital research to overcome unmet needs for specific symptoms, without the need for more medication. We want to find new solutions and improve everyday for people living with Parkinson’s, now.
We put people at the heart of our research
We believe everyone affected by Parkinson’s should have the chance to take part and have their say on research.
Building community
We're building a community of people who are passionate about research and helping us find new treatments faster. More than 10,000 people have joined our Research Support Network to get the latest news and opportunities to take part by email.
Without people taking part, progress towards new treatments would be impossible. We’re here to make taking part in research simple. Our Take Part Hub helps people find information about relevant studies at a click of a button. And more than 10,000 people have joined our Research Support Network to get the latest news and opportunities to take part by email.
Check out our Take Part Hub and find out more about taking part in research
To be sure that new treatments will work for everyone, we need everyone with Parkinson’s to be represented in research. But we know that, right now, that’s not the reality. Through our Race Equality in Research programme, we’re working with people from Black, Asian and mixed heritage to improve representation in Parkinson’s research.
Our sole focus is to improve life for people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. That’s why everything we do is driven by and informed by the experiences of people living with the condition, and we have over 500 volunteers involved in driving forward our work. Everyone can contribute and there are many ways to make a difference.