Parkinson’s boost in €10bn EU funding round

Europe

Author: George TheohariPublished: 29 July 2015

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EU announces investment in new treatments for Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s will be one of the main health areas to benefit from funding under the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) latest investment round.

The EIB – the EU’s long-term lending institution – has approved €10 billion of loans for a variety of strategic projects around the world.

These include medical research into Parkinson’s and epilepsy, as well as a host of infrastructure projects and investment in corporate research in the energy, automobile, and textile sectors.

Details of the investment in Parkinson’s have yet to be announced, but previously the EIB has provided funds for the development of new treatments by the Portuguese pharmaceutical company Bial.

In 2010-13 the EIB committed €50 million in loans to Bial’s research and development activities on drugs for epilepsy, cardiovascular affections and Parkinson’s disease.

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EPDA signs new charter on workplace rights

The European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) has signed the Dying to Work Charter – a pledge protecting the workplace rights of people with serious conditions. The charter – part of the Trade Union Congress’ wider Dying to Work campaign – has so far protected over half a million workers in the UK. The Dying to Work campaign group, chaired by MEP Rory Palmer, is calling on the European Union to amend its current legislation. The campaign is asking for serious conditions to be identified as a ‘protected characteristic’ – meaning employees would enjoy a protected period after diagnosis which would ensure the couldn’t be unfairly dismissed. Russell Patten, secretary general at the EPDA, said: “At the EPDA, we are committed to improving employment conditions, reducing stigma and ensuring accessibility to essential services for all people with Parkinson’s disease.” Image: Rory Palmer MEP (left) and Russell Patten, secretary general at the EPDA…

New wearable device could counteract gait

Scientists at the National University of Ireland Galway have created a wearable device that they believe will help people with Parkinson’s to walk more easily. The device, named cueStim, is worn around the waist and delivers fixed rhythmic sensory stimulation to the wearer. This will counteract ‘freezing of gait’ symptoms that are often experienced by people living with the condition. The scientists collaborated with professionals from UK medical board NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to test the device, and found that it significantly reduced the time taken for a person with Parkinson’s to complete walking tasks. Gearóid Ó Laighin, professor of electrical engineering at NUI Galway, said: “We are now seeking additional clinical partners to work with NUI Galway in carrying out a comprehensive long-term clinical evaluation of cueStim in enhancing the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s disease through a funded programme of research.”

Could robots replace animals in Parkinson’s medical trials?

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, are testing new treatments for Parkinson’s disease on robots. Academics at the university – who are collaborating with the International Institute for Neurosciences of Natal, Brazil – will use computer models of the human brain to simulate the effect medication has on people living with Parkinson’s. The study – which is the first of its kind – could lead to a major shift in the way that Parkinson’s treatments are tested in the future, and potentially put an end to animal testing. Dr Patricia A Vargas, the lead collaborator of the study said: “Our hope is two-fold – to reduce and replace animals in research, and to help and inform new therapies, treatments and even the cure for this debilitating disease.”

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Parkinson’s boost in €10bn EU funding round

Europe

Author: George TheohariPublished: 29 July 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Parkinson’s boost in €10bn EU funding round

Europe

Author: George TheohariPublished: 29 July 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

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Soaring high: why Parkinson’s won’t stop this 70-year-old paraglider

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Bread rosettes with spinach, feta and oregano

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