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Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh Awards $174,041 in Research Grants

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 July 2006, 18:01 CDT

PITTSBURGH, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh has awarded a total of $174,041 to four local research scientists, it was announced today. The one-year grants will fund Parkinson disease research projects over the next year.

According to Kevin D. Brown, executive director, the grants will help to advance the knowledge of the causes of and a cure for Parkinson disease.

"The projects were selected based on the Chapter's criteria that they are innovative and have impact on PD patients as quickly as possible, focus on PD symptoms that are less responsive to current therapy, and significantly improve the treatment of patients in the Greater Pittsburgh area," he said. The projects include:

- development of a new method for diagnosing swallowing disorders among Parkinson disease patients, - a search for molecules in brain cells that interact with each other to regulate the normal balance of the nerve cell chemical dopamine, - understanding how genetic (inherited) and environmental (non-inherited) influences interact to produce Parkinson disease, - a study of genes that, when mutated, cause familial forms of the disease.

The principal investigators include Roxann Diez Gross, PhD, David A. Hinkle, MD, PhD, Edward A. Burton, MD, PhD, and Ruth G. Perez, PhD. Dr. Gross is director of the UPMC Swallowing Disorders Center. The other investigators specialize in movement disorders. In addition to their research activities, they serve on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. Drs. Hinkle and Burton also see patients at the UPMC Comprehensive Movement Disorders Clinic.

The Chapter's Scientific Review Committee led by neurosurgeon and Chapter board member Eugene A. Bonaroti, MD, FACS, reviewed and scored the applications. The committee included clinicians and researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Carnegie Mellon University and Allegheny General Hospital.

Support of Parkinson's research is a major part of the Chapter's mission, according to Mr. Brown. "The Chapter has been fortunate to have tremendous support from the local Parkinson community. It is only through the generosity of our donors that we are able to provide these grants," he said.

Mr. Brown noted that the grants bring the Chapter's support of Parkinson's research to more than $750,000 since its founding ten years ago. The Chapter also made a $250,000 pledge recently to support the Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh, which will be used for movement disorders research.

About the Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh

The Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh is an affiliate of the National Parkinson Foundation. In addition to funding research, it conducts an exercise and wellness program at seven sites in Allegheny, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties; and provides information, support and referrals to those with Parkinson disease and their caregivers. For more information about the Chapter or Parkinson disease, call 412-365-2086 or visit http://www.parkinsonpittsburgh.org/.

CONTACT: Kevin D. Brown Executive Director Office: 412-365-2086 E-mail: KBrown@ParkinsonPittsburgh.org

Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh

CONTACT: Kevin D. Brown, Executive Director of the Parkinson Chapter ofGreater Pittsburgh, +1-412-365-2086, or KBrown@ParkinsonPittsburgh.org

Web site: http://www.parkinsonpittsburgh.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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