More than £4 million is invested annually in Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech. An initiative led by the Parkinson’s UK charity, it invests in research with the potential to unlock transformative new treatments. And for the first time it has attracted international funding, £200K, from US-based, The Parkinson’s Foundation, heralding the start of what promises to be a vital new trans-Atlantic partnership in the fight against the disease.
“We are delighted to receive this investment from the Parkinson’s Foundation to support a growing portfolio of projects in the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech,” said Steve Ford, Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK. “While we have made huge strides in our research efforts, we have long recognised that we can’t do it alone. The Parkinson’s Foundation shares this philosophy that we’re better together and their investment marks a new chapter that will help ensure the Parkinson’s community receives the new treatments it needs.”
The new grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation will go to a project investigating novel ways of stopping brain cell death by ‘stabilising the source of energy essential to cell survival, the mitochondria’.
“We are pleased to partner with Parkinson’s UK to further innovative research that will help the international Parkinson’s community,” added John Lehr, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Parkinson’s Foundation. “This collaboration will help us better serve people living with Parkinson’s today while furthering the promise of a cure tomorrow.”
