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.
In the past year we have seen Federal funding of $22m granted for Adult Stem Cell Research in Queensland , and $800,000 for research into falls prevention made available from the Michael J Fox Foundation. Over 2.5 million dollars has been made available for Parkinson’s research through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Parkinson’s Victoria have financially supported or partnered with the following research institutions over the past three years:
There is also the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. Click here for more details.
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 accessed by clicking here.
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
