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Parkinson's
Disease & Pursuit of Cure
Parkinson's
disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease after
Alzheimer's, affecting at least 100,000 Canadians with the
number of cases expected to double by the year 2050. While
the ultimate cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, symptoms
are mainly thought to result from the death of brain cells
that produce a chemical called dopamine.
The
Parkinson Research Consortium (PRC) was formed in Ottawa
in 2004 to bring together scientists with the common goals
of understanding how and why these brain cells die, and
applying this knowledge to the treatment of those with the
condition.
There
are presently no proven treatments available that can slow
the relentless progression of the disease. Only through
a better understanding of the basic mechanisms that cause
it can effective disease-altering treatments be developed.
The
PRC is composed of a select group of scientists from the
Ottawa Health
Research Institute (OHRI), the National
Research Council and the University
of Ottawa with diverse scientific talents and expertise
in genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience and patient
care. Our overall vision is to bring together a comprehensive
group of individuals whose purpose is to eradicate a disease
that currently follows an unremittingly, disabling course.
The
Parkinson Research Consortium (PRC) is now just over two
years old and continues to grow in productivity, personnel
and resources to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative
disease that affects more more than 1% of the population
over 65 years years old. Currently there are no treatments
that have been shown to affect the progression of the disease.
The PRC is composed of a select group of scientists at the
the Ottawa Health Research Institute and the University
of Ottawa.
The
main goal of the PRC is to be an incubator for innovative
ideas in PD research research and generate novel findings
leading to a cure for this devastating disease. It does
so by promoting and encouraging synergistic interactions
between scientists and clinicians. It also brings in specialists
from other areas of neurobiology, cell biology, genetics,
and systems biology to study the problem of Parkinson's
disease. Its secondary goals are to promote awareness in
the local and national community as well as to promote integration
of Parkinson's disease research on research on a national
basis.
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