The UK-based Cure Parkinson’s aims to fund research to slow, stop or reverse the disease.
Chief executive Helen Matthews and head of philanthropy Sophie Priestley visited the island to talk about the charity’s work.
‘We fund internationally, we identify targets of interest that could change the progression of Parkinson’s and we match therapeutics to that to try and have an impact on the disease progression itself,’ said Ms Matthews.
‘We have a number of strands to our research strategy, including identifying therapeutics that could affect the disease progression, and secondly, working with other diseases where we have mechanisms in common.
‘That could be neuroinflammation, for example, so we work very closely with Alzheimer’s Research UK and we also work with the MS Society, particularly around that topic, so you can see how there is commonality in brain diseases and trying to work as efficiently as possible by sharing ideas is really important to us.
‘The other thing that we’ve just started doing is looking at our combination therapies, so trying to see which drugs could work effectively either on two different targets in the brain but compatibly, or working together to have a bigger impact on the disease. The problem we have with Parkinson’s is that change, although for the individual it doesn’t feel like this, change is hard to measure because it isn’t very fast.
‘It’s not like a tumour that’s growing that you can see reducing as a result of the treatment, so it means that we’re very reliant on clinical measures to show change for people, and trying to make sure that we have the biggest impact we can on the disease for each individual is going to be very important.
‘Another area that we’re just about to start focusing on is trying to identify the right drug for the right person, because we know that Parkinson’s presents so very differently for people.’
The main aim of the talk was to show more people that work is being done to drive change for people with Parkinson’s.
‘What we’re trying to do today is just say you have to understand we’re all focusing on this, we all want to help and we all want to try and see change for Parkinson’s,’ said Ms Matthews.
Parkinson’s Guernsey director Chris Betley – who has the disease – said that having another major UK Parkinson’s charity in the island was ‘just incredible’.
‘We’re very lucky that in the summer we had a research director from Parkinson’s UK who was able to give us some really insightful information into where all the fundraising goes, what the research is showing up and then on our sixth birthday to have again, senior representatives of a major UK charity, the only UK charity that is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s is just incredible,’ he said.
‘I suppose it reflects the growth of the charity over the last six years and how well supported it’s been through the membership.
‘It reflects what a fantastic job it is doing, which is something that I found when I was diagnosed.
‘I was amazed at the offering that was available by a local charity and it’s just so good that it’s going from strength to strength.
‘Each year you think, “well how can things get bigger and better?”. But they do.
‘We have such an array of sports and other activities for our members and that’s really, really important, especially if you’re newly diagnosed, just knowing that there is somewhere that can help and there are people there who are also suffering, but they’re all coming together and playing padel or pickleball or walking football – just enjoying themselves, enjoying life, and making the best of what skills they’ve got available.’
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