Parkinson’s UK urges support for more clinical research

Clinical research, led by healthcare professionals in the NHS, plays a significant role in helping find new treatments or therapies for health conditions. However, over the past few years, rising pressure on healthcare services has meant that professionals have less time to conduct this research.

Representatives of Parkinson’s UK’s Research, Campaigns and Excellence Network teams provided evidence to the inquiry led by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee. During the inquiry, we stressed the importance of clinical research, and the need to ensure that healthcare professionals have time and funds to carry this out.

The inquiry highlighted the positive impact of clinical research in the NHS over the past few years, such as the NHS RECOVERY study during the coronavirus pandemic. It also suggested that a loss of research could result in missing out on or delaying breakthroughs. We support the recommendation that the UK government should act with urgency to protect time and funding to enable clinical research. 

Read the full recommendations on the UK Parliament website.

Professor David Dexter, Associate Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, said:
"Research led by healthcare professionals can have a huge impact on the speed with which we find new treatments or therapies for people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s. 

"Parkinson’s UK is currently funding a significant number of projects led by consultants, doctors, nurses and physios. Each of these adds a vital contribution to the UK portfolio of Parkinson’s research, helping us bring new options for people with Parkinson’s, sooner. It’s critical that the UK government is committed to supporting this research."

Professor Camille Carroll, Clinical Director of the Parkinson’s Excellence Network, said:
"Clinical research is critical to drive improvements in healthcare, but is under threat from a falling number of clinical academics and an NHS under huge pressure and focused on other priorities. The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee makes some welcome recommendations to address these challenges and ensure recognition of the value of this important work. 

"It is an exciting time in Parkinson’s research, with a rich pipeline of therapies to be tested in clinical trials. But we need to act now to ensure that the NHS within the UK is the best place for those trials to be delivered, and that we are training the best clinical scientists to lead the design of those trials and discover the therapies of the future. 

"Everyone with Parkinson’s should have the opportunity to take part in clinical research. In the Parkinson’s Excellence Network, we are working to make sure that all Parkinson’s professionals are involved in making this a reality."