BMSc (Hons), University of Dundee

MBChB, University of Dundee

PhD, Newcastle University

FRCP Edinburgh

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive and disabling neurodegenerative disorder which encompasses abnormal movements, neuropsychiatric disturbances, autonomic dysfunction and ultimately, dementia.  There are approximately 12,000 people living with PD in Scotland.  In common with other neurodegenerative disorders, treatment remains symptomatic and there are no disease-modifying therapies commercially available.

We are committed to involving people with Parkinson’s in research.  My experience of performing laboratory research, observational studies and clinical trials has shown me that a collaborative translational approach is essential and that partnerships between NHS clinicians, academics and industry are an effective way of delivering high quality clinical research.

We are building a translational clinical research programme for Parkinson’s disease and associated neurodegenerative disorders which will, for the first time, unite the established experimental research programmes of Edinburgh University with clinical medicine.

People with Parkinson’s will be given the opportunity to participate in CTIMPs of novel treatments for all stages of PD and also for the non-motor features such as dementia, psychosis, sleep disorders and autonomic dysfunction.  Our ultimate aim is to conduct CTIMPs for potentially disease-modifying and regenerative therapies.