See also

Parkinson's Centre

Parkinson's Centre

"....improving the quality of life of people with Parkinson's through research and education in the search for a cure"

The Parkinson's Centre (ParkC) is a new ECU research Centre founded on collaborative partnerships between the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology, and the Parkinson's Association of Western Australia.

Developing preventative measures and improving quality of life for people with Parkinson's will be best achieved through cross-disciplinary research collaborations. ParkC therefore brings together researchers from different disciplines including: neurologists, neuropsychologists, exercise physiologists, and experts in neurodegenerative stem cell research.

The key objectives of ParkC are:

  • To lessen the burden of this devastating disease on the community by developing a better understanding of the problems associated with Parkinsons and developing physical and psychological care systems based on research
  • To enhance the synergies between different research disciplines and the Parkinson's community
  • To gain insights into the causes of Parkinson's and measures to prevent it
  • To develop effective treatments that alter the natural history of the disease with the ultimate aim of finding a cure for Parkinson's.

Current projects include:

  • Cell replacement therapies and prevention of degeneration
  • Animal models of Parkinson's tremor and neurogenesis
  • Identification of subgroups of Parkinson's based on the longitudinal collection of data (including motor, cognitive, quality of life, and wellness information)
  • Evaluating the efficacy of exercise for reducing the motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's.

Contacts

Dr Meghan Thomas
Telephone: (61 8) 6304 3560
Email: ParkC@ecu.edu.au